Overview
- Animal-welfare groups from the UK to the US issued last-minute guidance to keep pets indoors, walk dogs earlier, create quiet dens, mask noise with TV or music, and ensure microchips and ID tags are up to date.
- UK figures cited by charities highlight the scale of the problem, including an RSPCA estimate that about 45% of dogs show fear of fireworks and Dogs Trust survey findings of escapes and injuries.
- A South African veterinarian cautioned that blasts can trigger acute stress responses, panic attacks and escape attempts in dogs, with clinics reporting seasonal spikes in such cases.
- South African authorities said they are tightening checks on illegal sales and unsafe use, setting time limits for discharges, enforcing distance rules near sensitive sites and warning that offenders face immediate action.
- In Germany, some dog owners booked airport-area hotels or stayed in terminals to avoid explosions as imports of pyrotechnics rose sharply and calls for curbs on private fireworks continued despite political resistance, while some retailers promoted quieter options.