The holiday cheer has begun, and your four-legged friend may already be hiding under the bed.
Animals are severely afraid of firecrackers, leading to panic and shock.
Dogs can hear much better than humans – sounds as far as six kilometers away.
Can you imagine how loud a firecracker going off on their street sounds to a dog?
Such a bang can send animals running blind, causing them to lose their orientation and end up on the road.
Some never return to their owners.
Every year in Slovenia, the organization Tam-Tam runs a campaign called “Firecrackers? No, thank you.” (Petarde? Ne, hvala.)
This year marks the twelfth time it has been organized, this time under the slogan “They hear your firecrackers. Do you hear their fear?”
The campaign is primarily aimed at teenagers between the ages of twelve and fifteen, who still try to buy firecrackers online despite warnings.
Members of the campaign opened profiles on TikTok where they pretended to offer firecrackers.
The results were alarming.
More than 100 young people, mostly boys between twelve and nineteen years olf, tried to buy them.
But there was a surprise …
The buyers received a fake firecracker that explodes when opened and plays the sound of an animal in distress.
Instead of firecrackers, they found a stuffed toy and a chip in the box that plays the sounds of frightened animals.
The box addresses the campaign’s key message.
How can you protect animals from loud noises?
- Close all windows and doors in the house or apartment.
- Allow pets to rest in a dim place.
- Don’t show any signs of agitation yourself.
- Divert pets’ attention with games or toys.
- Don’t leave pets at home alone.
The holiday fireworks and firecrackers will only intensify through the night, so take your four-legged friend for a longer walk earlier in the morning.
Avoid crowded neighborhoods and various parties.
Glossary
Orientation is determining one’s position relative to certain points.
A campaign is a series of planned actions carried out to reach a particular goal.
Points to Consider
- How do you take care of your pets on New Year’s Eve?
- How can firecrackers be dangerous for you, too?
- Are you afraid of fireworks or firecrackers?
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The original version of this article was published on December 27th.
