Fireworks
Fireworks cause much animal suffering and environmental pollution every year
Therefore, in 2021, we have launched the campaign 'I CLAP' set up in which we advocate for a permanent nationwide ban on fireworks. A large number of national and regional organisations - working for animal welfare and the environment - joined us. We will not be satisfied until the ban is in place.
Not only pets like dogs, cats, rabbits and rodents suffer a lot of fireworks stress. Fireworks also cause a lot of fear in birds and other wildlife at the turn of the year. In addition, fireworks cause a lot of particulate matter in the air and heavy metals in the soil and groundwater.
Fireworks anxiety and hearing damage in animals
Fireworks cause fear and stress to many animals during the turn of the year. The sound is especially frightening for animals, as their hearing is much more sensitive than that of humans. An animal reacts from its natural behaviour and instinct to what it sees, smells and hears. Most animals then take flight, causing many accidents such as collisions. And birds fly into windows, power lines and other high obstacles in a blind panic, often resulting in death.
Environmental pollution from fireworks
Nature also experiences annual nuisance from fireworks. When fireworks are set off, fine dust is released. This causes air pollution and is harmful to nature, but also to human and animal health. Besides air pollution, fireworks also cause soil and water pollution. This is because the fine dust, together with unburnt firework residues, which contain chemicals and heavy metals, also ends up in the water and soil.
Watch images from the campaign here:
Dogs
Cats
Birds
Vee
Environment
Tips
- Stay as calm as possible yourself. Your animal copies your stress.
- Show behaviour whatever you normally show.
- Provide attention when your animal asks for attention and leave your animal alone when your animal asks for rest.
- Make sure your animal has the opportunity to find a safe and quiet place, such as a basket and/or hiding place.
- Don't punish your animal.
- Do not leave your animal (preferably) alone at home.
- Distract your animal with games, for example.
- We are not a fan of sedative medication, as the sedation may work, but the sensitivity to sound may remain the same or even increase. So in some cases, the anxiety may be present but the ability to react, such as running away or trembling, may not be.
- Close the curtains in the evening.
- Close the cat flap, windows and doors during the days surrounding New Year's Eve and keep your cat inside.
- Do not let your dog out after 10pm. Take a long walk in the afternoon, for example, and stay home together in the evening.
- Always keep your dog on a leash around New Year's Eve.
- Turning on loud music during the bangs of fireworks can help.
- Some animals can be trained well in advance with sound clips of fireworks. Make sure you build up the sound slowly: start soft and short and if that goes well, you can play the sound longer and louder. During the sound, do something fun or give your dog a treat. Before you start training and/or contact a trainer.
- Check with your dog school if special fireworks training is available.
- Contact your vet or a behaviour specialist with specific questions.
- For some dogs, earmuffs and tight-fitting jackets that can possibly provide peace of mind and a sense of security work. Get your animal used to such equipment well in advance.
- Make sure your animal is microchipped and properly registered.
- Save our phone number in your phone. Hopefully it won't be necessary, but we can also be reached during New Year's Eve.
Has your pet not yet been microchipped:
we chip and register
Subscribe to our newsletter
Yes, I give
... To the animals of Amsterdam