Urban noise pollution causes chronic stress in dogs living in noisy environments, with welfare implications that extend beyond obvious fear responses.
Urban noise pollution creates a chronic welfare burden for dogs living in noisy environments. Unlike the acute fear of fireworks, traffic noise is a constant low-level stressor that elevates baseline anxiety and cortisol. This chronic stress contributes to anxiety disorders and immune compromise. Noise attenuation through building design and providing quiet refuge spaces reduces but cannot eliminate this welfare impact.