This Deepavali: Keep the light, not the sound

By Nidhruv Chandrashekhar,  Animal Lover & Wildlife Enthusiast

As we prepare to commemorate Deepavali, the festival of lights that signifies the victory of good over evil, it is vital to contemplate how our choices reverberate throughout the world. Deepavali, a celebration traditionally marked by worship, illumination and joy, has increasingly become intertwined with the disruptive and harmful practice of setting off loud firecrackers.

Every year, we witness the tragic toll that firecrackers exact on animals — dogs, birds, squirrels, snakes and numerous other species. These innocent beings, unprepared for the thunderous explosions, suffer tremendously, often with fatal consequences.

The intense noise and vibrations generated by firecrackers induce severe stress and trauma in animals, many of whom experience cardiac arrest, panic-induced accidents, shock and even convulsions.

For dogs and cats whose hearing is acutely sensitive, the sudden blasts  lead to disorientation, deafness and anxiety attacks, prompting them to flee their own homes and guardians.

In their frantic escape, they end up becoming lost and also suffer grievous injuries from vehicles during their disoriented run. Many endure lasting disabilities and emotional trauma as a result.

Birds, driven by sheer terror collide with windows or walls, fracturing their wings and plummeting to the ground, trapped in chaos. In their panic, they  suffer from convulsions, leading to further injury or death.

This Deepavali, let us choose to celebrate with compassion. Instead of loud firecrackers, let us illuminate our homes with diyas, may be light a few flower pots and sparklers. By doing so, we can ensure that our celebrations do not inflict decibel harm on the lives around us.

Preparing your pet for loud firecrackers

1. Medications: You can feed them anti-anxiety medication before hand to clam them.
2. Decible-Training: Dogs and cats that have not heard loud crackers, perceive that sound as a threat, so play cracker sounds beforehand so they know its not a threat.
3. Distraction with high-value treats: “Self-soothe” techniques involve helping the dog calm down through sniffing, chewing or licking.
4. Let your dog “run it out”: A tired, sleepy dog doesn’t have the energy to pace or pant through the house.
5. Play white noise or music: The noise of fireworks prompts fear in dogs the most. If you can drown out those crashes and booms with a white noise machine or pleasing music, you can quickly reduce their stress levels.
6. Allow your dog extra space or a hiding place: Many dogs look for somewhere out of sight and hearing of the fireworks. Provide a closed indoor kennel or a closed space they can cower in.
7. Pair your dog with a dog who isn’t afraid of fireworks: Modelling, where dogs learn from each other, can work in reverse, too. If your nervous dog sees an older or more dominant dog relaxing and remaining calm during the fireworks display, it can set a precedent.