- Cultural ambassador laments fireworks use after dog kills self during explosions.
The use of pyrotechnics in residential areas has sparked a social media debate among Vincentians after Cultural Ambassador Darron Andrews informed followers that one of his dogs ran and hung himself because of the loud blasts during the old and new year celebrations on Sunday night.
In a Facebook post, Andrews stated,
“These fireworks in residential neighbourhoods near people’s homes, I can’t understand. It scared my dogs; one ran and hung himself out of fright, trying to get away. The noise does something to them.”
The death of ‘Trix’, a Rottweiler-Akita mix, has greatly affected Andrews, who says the dog would have turned six years old this year.
“I wish I was home to save him. ‘RIP Trix.’ I still haven’t slept yet. No one will understand; he was a really good dog and really smart.”
Like others who vented their frustration with the loud music in residential areas over the holidays, Andrews also had his say on the matter.
“It seems like this fireworks thing and loud music are happening all over without warning these days.”
Andrew’s Facebook friends also shared their thoughts on his Trix’s death and the subject of what many see as lawlessness in the country when it comes to events.
Michael L. Charles
“Everybody does as they like in this country. Sorry for your loss.”
Earl G. Abbott
“Sad to hear, Breddah. My cousin in SLU had a similar experience with her dog and the ruckus associated with last night’s fireworks, but, thankfully, it survived the chaos.”
Carla Bacchus
“I was thinking about this last night. Our neighbours’ fireworks next to our house were out of control! I was sure we would end up with a fire. My friend owns a dog and always dreads this time of year because the dog is traumatised every time. It’s a beautiful display from our window, but the fireworks closer to the nearby park are enough and should be the only ones allowed. Certain places only. Needs regulation”.
So, can fireworks sounds cause terror in dogs?
“Fireworks create loud and unfamiliar noises that the dog does not understand, and they perceive them as signs of danger,” says Dr. Gary Richter, a veterinarian with Rover.
Rover is the world’s largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.
These sounds may trigger a dog’s fight-or-flight response, particularly the “flight” portion. Richter says there’s nothing to fight against since there’s no visible danger, so instead, their response is to run or hide.
July 5th tends to be one of the busiest days of the year for animal shelters in the U.S., and there’s a reported 30% increase in lost pets annually in the days following July 4th.
Do fireworks hurt dogs’ ears?
It’s difficult to study how fireworks affect dogs’ long-term hearing; therefore, veterinarians aren’t completely sure whether or not fireworks hurt dogs’ ears.
Dogs’ ears are more sensitive than human ears, so it is possible that these loud noises could affect dogs’ hearing. This makes fireworks extremely unexpected and unpredictable for dogs, resulting in even more fear.
Dr. Ann Hohenhaus is a senior veterinarian at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Centre.
