Animal rights advocates worry over impact of firecrackers on pets

FILE PHOTO: Animal rights and welfare advocates have expressed worry over the impact of firecracker explosions on pets during the Christmas holiday. This photo taken on January 1, 2013, shows a reveler setting off firecrackers as residents usher New Year in Manila. Agence France-Presse file photo / TED ALJIBE

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Animal rights and welfare advocates have expressed worry over the impact of firecracker explosions on pets during the Christmas holiday.

This came as the local government here lifted the ban on the use of firecrackers from the period Dec. 1 to Jan. 6 of every year “to enliven the celebration of the Yuletide season.”

Mercy Sucro of the nongovernment group Paw Savers Zamboanga said that with the ban lifted, there would be more firecracker explosions in the city during the holidays.

READ: ‘Firecrackers can cause trauma in animals’

And this prospect has raised their worries about the impact of the explosions on pet animals.

“For humans, this is exciting, but not for the dogs and cats. In fact, we are still trying to figure out how we will comfort our 80 rescued pets come Dec. 31 as they tremble every time they hear explosions from firecrackers and fireworks,” Sucro explained.

READ: Firecrackers bad for pets, public reminded

Usually, there is heavy use of fireworks to welcome the new year.

“This is also one of the reasons why some animals get lost because they tend to escape out of fear,” Sucro said.

READ: No firecrackers, please, for pets’ sake

The firecrackers ban was imposed after the 2013 Zamboanga siege when many residents had developed trauma and fear of explosions coming out of the horrors of the intense 20-day fighting.

Siege survivors had also opposed the lifting of the ban.