Fireworks cause significant fear and welfare harm to millions of companion animals annually, with Fourth of July being the peak event for lost and injured pets.
Companion animals during fireworks experience acute fear responses including trembling, hiding, fleeing, self-injury from panic, and in severe cases cardiac events. Horses that run through fences are common casualties. The fear experienced is intense and real, comparable to what humans experience from explosions in conflict zones. Animals cannot understand that the noise is harmless. Many animals show prolonged behavioral changes after fireworks events indicating lasting psychological impact.