Say NO to Fireworks This New Year: Choose Kindness for Animals
FOUR PAWS urges communities to protect pets and wildlife by ditching fireworks and embracing safer celebrations
Cape Town, 22 December 2025 — As South Africans prepare to welcome the New Year, the global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS calls on communities to say NO to fireworks and prioritise the safety and well-being of animals. Fireworks may be a thrill for some, but for animals, they are a source of panic, trauma and even life-threatening danger.
Why fireworks harm animals:
- Extreme stress: Dogs and cats hear sounds up to four times more acutely than humans. Loud, unpredictable explosions trigger fear responses similar to thunderstorms—but far more intense.
- Escape and injury: Many pets flee in panic, risking traffic accidents or getting lost. Wildlife and livestock are equally vulnerable.
- Long-term trauma: Just one negative experience can cause lifelong noise phobias in animals. Repeated exposure during festive seasons reinforces this fear.
What can communities do:
FOUR PAWS encourages South Africans to celebrate responsibly and protect animals by taking these steps:
1. Say NO to fireworks
- Opt for silent alternatives like laser shows or eco-friendly light displays.
- Support municipalities enforcing firework bans and report illegal use.
2. Create safe spaces for pets
- Prepare a quiet, secure area with familiar bedding and toys.
- Close windows, draw curtains, and play calming music to mask outside noise.
- Never leave pets alone during times when fireworks might be set off.
3. Educate and engage
- Teach children why fireworks harm animals and promote empathy.
- Share tips with neighbours and check in on vulnerable households.
- Plan pet-safe gatherings and encourage community-wide awareness.
Join the movement
This New Year, make a different kind of noise, one that speaks for the voiceless. Whether you’re a pet owner, neighbour or concerned citizen, your actions matter. Together, we can ensure that joy for humans does not mean terror for animals.
For more information, please visit our website at www.four-paws.org.za
ENDS/
Deidre Daniels
Public Relations Officer+27 (0)21 702 4277
+27 (0)78 675 8220
9B Bell Crescent, Westlake Business Park,
Green Building, Cape Town, 7945
A Public Relations professional with over eight years’ experience in fostering positive relationships between organisations and media.
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FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.za