Why fireworks are torture for dogs, cats, and wild animals

The arrival of the holiday season brings with it a tradition that for many is synonymous with joy, but for millions of animals represents a traumatic experience: fireworks. While humans enjoy the flashes and explosions, dogs, cats, domestic birds, and wildlife endure episodes of terror that can lead to serious injuries, illness, and even death.

The problem is neither minor nor anecdotal. It is estimated that approximately half of urban dogs suffer symptoms related to firecracker explosions, while one fifth of companion animal disappearances are due to very loud sounds, mainly fireworks and storms. Behind every celebration with fireworks lies an invisible reality: the mass suffering of beings who cannot understand or escape the deafening noise.

Hearing three times more sensitive

To understand the magnitude of the problem, it is essential to consider biological differences. Dogs can hear up to 60,000 hertz, while humans perceive nothing beyond 20,000 hertz—barely one third of canine capacity. This superior auditory acuity turns what may be an annoying noise for us into an extremely painful experience for them.

Fireworks can emit sounds of up to 190 decibels, far above the human pain threshold, which lies between 75 and 80 decibels. To put this into perspective, fireworks generate noise levels higher than gunshots, which reach 140 decibels, and even some jet aircraft, which reach around 100 decibels. This sound level is not only terrifying for animals, but can also cause permanent physical damage to their auditory system, including hearing loss and tinnitus.

Panic that triggers tragedies

Animals’ reactions to fireworks go far beyond a momentary fright. Dogs show unmistakable signs of extreme panic: paralysis or freezing, desperate attempts to escape, uncontrollable trembling, excessive panting, profuse salivation, and tachycardia. In many cases, intense vocalizations, loss of sphincter control, destruction of objects and furniture, and gastrointestinal disorders are also observed.

"These stress responses can evolve into severe tachycardia, nervous disorders, and heart attacks. We have documented cases of animals that literally die of fear", explains Aïda Gascón, director of AnimaNaturalis in Spain. "Sometimes they flee in desperation, and in that escape they can be run over on a road. Disorientation and panic lead them to expose themselves to dangers they would normally avoid".

Scientific studies support these observations. Research has shown that during fireworks episodes, dogs experience a significant increase in cortisol, the stress hormone, and a marked imbalance of the nervous system with predominance of the sympathetic system. Neuropsychologists specializing in canine behavior point out that these animals’ response is similar to post-traumatic stress in humans, with the difference that dogs lack the ability to rationalize their anxiety, meaning they experience a deeper and more intense form of terror.

The statistics are devastating: organizations such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals indicate that firecrackers and storms account for nearly 20 percent of lost-animal cases. During fireworks celebrations, shelters and animal protection organizations are overwhelmed by reports of missing animals, many of whom present injuries from trying to break through windows, jump fences, or escape by any means from the source of the noise.

Cats: silent victims

The effects of fireworks on cats are less obvious to outside observers, but no less serious. These animals tend to hide or attempt to flee—responses that may seem less dramatic than those of dogs, yet indicate a similar level of distress. Their more reserved nature means their suffering often goes unnoticed.

An additional danger for cats is their natural curiosity. Many that are near areas where fireworks are set off end up ingesting remnants of firecrackers, which can cause severe poisoning. Firecrackers contain highly toxic chemicals, and their explosions release harmful particles such as fine respirable dust. In some documented cases, cats have lost their eyesight or suffered serious injuries from nearby explosions.

Birds: from home to sky, all are vulnerable

Domestic birds, often forgotten in this debate, suffer particularly severe consequences. The noise of firecrackers can cause tachycardia and even sudden death. These creatures, with their delicate cardiovascular and respiratory systems, are extremely sensitive to intense startle responses.

In wildlife, the effects are equally devastating. Disorientation and panic responses to fireworks cause birds to fly erratically, crashing into buildings, windows, or power lines. Colonial species that nest at high densities, such as gulls, are at especially high risk: when they flee the noise, many mothers fail to find their nest upon returning, condemning their chicks to abandonment and death.

Scientific research has documented that birds affected by explosive noises significantly reduce their feeding time. To compensate for this loss, they attempt to feed at night, shortening their periods of rest and sleep and gradually reducing their survival rates. In extreme cases, panic caused by fireworks has led to massive, temporary abandonment of entire areas.

The hidden impact

Suffering is not limited to companion animals. Horses—extremely sensitive animals whose panic reactions can be dramatic and dangerous—have been involved in numerous incidents. An estimated 79 percent of horses experience anxiety due to firecrackers, and 26 percent suffer injuries directly related to them. There are documented cases of horses jumping stable doors or fences, fleeing onto roads where they were struck by vehicles.

In farm animals, the consequences are also significant. Laying hens show extremely low egg production the day after fireworks explosions, and the eggs produced often present malformations. In pregnant females of various species, severe stress can trigger spontaneous abortions or embryonic resorption.

Zoos provide additional evidence of the impact of fireworks. Studies conducted in these facilities have found that noise puts animals such as rhinoceroses and cheetahs into a highly nervous state, visibly affects elephants, and keeps rodents running for minutes after the noises have ceased.

The danger of intoxication

Beyond auditory and psychological trauma, fireworks represent a chemical hazard. Firecrackers are poisonous, and their explosions release harmful particles. The dense smoke is composed mainly of fine, respirable, and toxic dust that can worsen existing conditions and trigger new ones. The chemicals released are especially dangerous for cats and dogs, who may ingest firecracker remnants out of curiosity.

Animals that are too close to detonations suffer significant burns, eye damage, and auditory injuries that can be permanent. Studies conducted on hunting dogs frequently exposed to nearby gunfire have confirmed irreversible hearing loss—a phenomenon that can be extrapolated to exposure to fireworks.

The human context

The impact of fireworks goes beyond the animal world. People on the autism spectrum experience explosions as a true sensory catastrophe. Their need for order and regularity means that unpredictable, strident noises disturb them profoundly, increasing cortisol levels and generating stereotyped, repetitive, and sometimes aggressive behaviors.

Older adults, babies, migraine sufferers, individuals with post-traumatic stress, and patients with epilepsy are also severely affected. War veterans may experience traumatic episodes by associating the sound with combat experiences. People with epilepsy may suffer seizures after pyrotechnic displays, and those with tinnitus see their condition worsen.

A progressive but urgent change

"This debate is on the streets but has not yet sufficiently reached public administrations, especially city councils that year after year spend thousands of euros on fireworks displays", notes Gascón. "It is something very cultural, so change will have to be progressive, but that does not mean we should resign ourselves to inaction".

AnimaNaturalis considers it essential that administrations strictly enforce existing regulations that already prohibit the use of fireworks by private individuals in most Spanish municipalities. However, reality shows that these ordinances are barely respected. Local police often prioritize other matters, and indiscriminate use continues, especially during the holiday season and local festivities.

"We need more robust legislation that not only prohibits, but establishes real and effective sanctions", argues the director of AnimaNaturalis in Spain. "But above all, we need a cultural shift. Society must understand that our right to entertainment cannot be placed above the well-being of millions of sentient beings who suffer without the ability to defend themselves".

Alternatives that already work

Fortunately, viable alternatives exist that allow celebrations without causing suffering. LED light shows with drones have revolutionized large-scale celebrations, offering spectacular figures in the sky without noise or pollution. Silent fireworks, already implemented in cities such as Collechio in Italy, demonstrate that it is possible to enjoy the visual element of pyrotechnics without triggering panic among animals.

Laser light shows, audiovisual projections, and interactive lighting installations represent modern, spectacular, and respectful options. These alternatives not only protect animals, but are also safer for people, more environmentally sustainable, and, in the medium term, more economical for public administrations.

Pioneering cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, and Zaragoza have already begun implementing restrictions in their public celebrations, opting for less noisy alternatives. This shift responds to growing social awareness of the negative impact of traditional fireworks not only on animals, but also on vulnerable people.

Immediate protection: what we can do today

While broader legislative and cultural change is achieved, there are measures that animal guardians can implement to reduce the impact of fireworks. The most important is to create a safe environment: tightly close doors and windows to muffle sound, prepare an indoor space where the animal can take refuge, and above all, remain with them to convey calm.

Walks should be taken before festive events begin, always keeping the leash firmly secured to prevent sudden escapes. Playing calming music or keeping the television at a moderate volume can help partially mask the sound of explosions. Specific hearing protectors for animals, while not eliminating the problem entirely, can reduce the intensity of the stimulus.

In cases of severe anxiety, veterinarians may recommend specific products such as calming pheromones or compression garments that create a soothing effect. Anxiolytic medication should always be the last resort and under strict professional supervision, individualized according to each animal’s clinical history.

A call for empathy

"What we are asking for is neither exceptional nor radical", concludes Gascón. "We are simply asking that animals’ right not to suffer unnecessarily be respected. That it be understood that celebrating should not mean causing harm. Beautiful and effective alternatives exist that preserve the magic of celebrations without the cost of others’ suffering".

Loud fireworks are a dispensable tradition. They add nothing essential to our celebrations that cannot be achieved through other, safer and more respectful means. The question is not whether we can change, but when we will decide to do so. Meanwhile, every explosion will continue to cause terror to millions of beings who have no voice to protest and no ability to escape.

The solution lies in our hands, in the decisions of our city councils, and in the pressure we can exert as citizens. Banning private access to these devices, replacing traditional fireworks displays with silent alternatives, and effectively sanctioning non-compliance with ordinances are concrete and achievable steps. It is not about eliminating the joy of celebrations, but about transforming it into a joy that is not built on the pain of others.

Cultural change is possible when information circulates and empathy expands. More and more people understand that their momentary enjoyment of firecrackers and rockets has a real and measurable cost in animal suffering. That growing awareness is the foundation upon which, progressively but with determination, a more civilized, more compassionate, and truly festive model of celebration will be built for all sentient beings who share our environment.