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PETA Offers Tips for a Safe Diwali

For Immediate Release:
8 November 2001

Contact:
Jason Baker (0) 98201 22602


Mumbai — Diwali can seem more like a terrorist attack than a festive celebration to dogs, cows, donkeys and other animals. Noisy fireworks displays are frightening to animals, who don’t realise the explosions are entertainment, not bombardment.

After fireworks displays, an increased number of lost companion animals, many of whom have run away after being frightened by the loud noises, are taken in by animal shelters. The lucky animals are reunited with their families, but others are never recovered, and some suffer serious injuries or even die in their effort to escape the noise.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals encourages people to take the following precautions to ensure animals’ comfort and safety:

• Keep cats and dogs indoors during fireworks displays, and, if possible, stay with them.
  
  
• Close your windows and curtains, and turn on a radio or TV to help drown out the noise.
  
  
• Make sure your nonhuman companion is wearing a collar and an up-to-date identification tag.
  
  
• Please make sure people do not throw firecrackers at animals. Ask your building’s security guard to be on the lookout for people who tie lit firecrackers to the tails of dogs and other animals. Report problems to the police.
  
  
• Discourage the bursting of very loud crackers when possible, because the hearing threshold of animals is much higher than ours.
  
  
• Keep an eye out for lost companion animals with collars and tags. Take these animals to your local shelter, or look after them until their home can be found.
  
  
• Instead of ear-splittingly loud and dangerous bombs, light up your houses with diyas, lamps and other decorative ornaments that are friendly to all.