For immediate release:
June 28, 2021
Contact:
Nicole Meyer 202-483-7382
Denver – As the fourth of July approaches and revelers plan to watch the fireworks illuminate the sky, PETA is asking everyone to stop the noisy pyrotechnics that make many dogs and cats flee in panic and follow its advice to keep the animals safe.
Every Independence Day (and any time the fireworks go away), animal shelters are seeing an increase in the number of lost animals that have run away from the noise and some are knocked down or killed in other ways… Denver residents reported a huge increase in illegal fireworks last summer, including in the weeks leading up to July 4th.
Humans can help protect animals by taking the following precautions:
- Keep cats and dogs indoors. Never leave animals on leashes or chains outside – they can hang themselves if they jump over the fence trying to escape the noise. Animals can also get hurt while trying to get out of the pen.
- Never take animals with you to watch fireworks! If you know in advance that there will be fireworks in your area, To stay home with your animals and try to calm them down.
- Close windows and curtains. To muffle sounds, turn on the fans and air conditioners, and the TV or radio tuned to a classical music radio station.
- Buy a ThunderShirt shirt to help your dog or cat deal with the stress of fireworks. Other ways to calm animals down is to play specially designed iCalmPet music and give them a natural supplement called melatonin, which you can buy at your local health food store. (Check with your veterinarian first.)
- Just in case, make sure your companion animal is microchipped and wears a collar or harness with an up-to-date ID tag.
- If it’s cold enough outside, take the dogs for a long walk or have some fun in the dog park before the fireworks start to tire them out.
- If you witness someone setting up illegal fireworks, call the authorities immediately.
“For animals, fireworks really do sound like “bomb explosions,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA encourages everyone to dance, have fun and celebrate as they see fit – provided the festivities leave the animals alone.”
It’s not just animals that are affected: Veterans and other people with PTSD may be seriously concerned about the fireworks. By sharing PETA’s advice, you can make this holiday safer for everyone. Thank you very much for your attention.