Silent Fireworks: A Growing Trend to Ease Nervous Dogs and Animals
Many pet parents dread the 4th of July celebrations every year because of the anxiety and panic-inducing firework displays. The loud bangs, explosions of light and clouds of smoke can be terrifying for pets and other animals.
Animal shelters and rescues always prepare for a spike in lost pets around the 4th of July because during fireworks displays, many pets get disoriented and flee in panic.
The people of Collecchio, a town in the Parma province in Italy, recognized the toll that the fireworks displays take on pets and resolved to do something about it. The result was the passing of a law in 2015 that states that citizens may only use “quiet” or “silent fireworks” during celebrations.
Today, the use of quiet and silent fireworks is on the rise all over Europe. Not only do they keep nervous dogs and cats safe, but they also help to minimize the toll these displays take on wildlife and farm animals.
As an article in the New York Times explains, “The real promise behind quiet fireworks, however, is the possibility that they could reduce the harmful effects of traditional fireworks, which include stress on animals and damage to people’s hearing.”
While “silent firework” displays may be a bit smaller than the traditional and extravagant displays we see today, they actually tend to have more vibrant colors. As Bustle explains, “Silent or quiet fireworks forego the loud noises inherent in explosively powerful fireworks to focus on the colors that can be created using stars packed with metal salts.” These “stars” are actually small pellets packed with chemical compounds that create the colors in fireworks.
Many of the common fireworks displays that we see actually use quiet or silent fireworks to add more eye-catching visuals to the overall show.
There are many reasons why switching to silent firework displays would be beneficial for all—from not frightening children or people with PTSD to not scaring animals or causing pets to run away.
But until the trend of silent fireworks hits the US, you can check out this article for tips on how to keep your pets calm during 4th of July firework displays.
Image via Patiwat Sariya/Shutterstock.com
Animal shelters and rescues always prepare for a spike in lost pets around the 4th of July because during fireworks displays, many pets get disoriented and flee in panic.
The people of Collecchio, a town in the Parma province in Italy, recognized the toll that the fireworks displays take on pets and resolved to do something about it. The result was the passing of a law in 2015 that states that citizens may only use “quiet” or “silent fireworks” during celebrations.
Today, the use of quiet and silent fireworks is on the rise all over Europe. Not only do they keep nervous dogs and cats safe, but they also help to minimize the toll these displays take on wildlife and farm animals.
As an article in the New York Times explains, “The real promise behind quiet fireworks, however, is the possibility that they could reduce the harmful effects of traditional fireworks, which include stress on animals and damage to people’s hearing.”
While “silent firework” displays may be a bit smaller than the traditional and extravagant displays we see today, they actually tend to have more vibrant colors. As Bustle explains, “Silent or quiet fireworks forego the loud noises inherent in explosively powerful fireworks to focus on the colors that can be created using stars packed with metal salts.” These “stars” are actually small pellets packed with chemical compounds that create the colors in fireworks.
Many of the common fireworks displays that we see actually use quiet or silent fireworks to add more eye-catching visuals to the overall show.
There are many reasons why switching to silent firework displays would be beneficial for all—from not frightening children or people with PTSD to not scaring animals or causing pets to run away.
But until the trend of silent fireworks hits the US, you can check out this article for tips on how to keep your pets calm during 4th of July firework displays.
Image via Patiwat Sariya/Shutterstock.com