Fireworks cause significant fear and suffering in dogs, cats, horses, and wildlife. Evidence-based management strategies help reduce the welfare impact of firework events on sensitive animals.
Firework events cause predictable, preventable suffering in millions of companion animals annually. The fear response in sensitive animals is not trivial — it represents genuine panic with measurable physiological stress responses comparable to life-threatening situations. Management requires a layered approach: environmental modification (safe hiding spaces, sound-proofing), behavioural preparation (desensitisation), and pharmaceutical support for severely affected animals. Long-term desensitisation is more effective than reactive management. Public attitudes toward fireworks are shifting — silent firework displays and restrictions on private use in residential areas are gaining support as awareness of animal welfare impacts grows.