Anyone who lives with a cat or dog and is truly concerned about their welfare will hate fireworks or they should do in my honest opinion. I detest fireworks. And it is not only because I’m concerned about my cat. It’s because they are noisy. I don’t understand why people like to listen to the aggressive sounds of fireworks. Visually fireworks are nice to look at so they should be quiet. Quiet in the interests of millions of pet cats and dogs and in this instance a red panda cub, Roxie, at Edinburgh Zoo.
The headline is that the zoo suspects that a red panda cub in their care died from stress caused by fireworks. It’s a bit shocking because the red panda is an endangered animal. During Bonfire Night last week fireworks were let off in Edinburgh which impacted the animals at the zoo.
Veterinary experts at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland which runs the zoo believe that a link between the death of Roxie and fireworks was “likely”. And, worryingly, the charity also believes that the death of her mother, Ginger, was also linked to noise from fireworks.
Roxie’s death was disclosed last night after they had announced that Roxie’s parents, Bruce and Ginger had given birth saying that the cub is doing well and exploring.
“Roxie had recently lost her mum, Ginger, but was responding well to specialist care from our expert team and was feeding independently. Very sadly, she choked on her vomit on Bonfire Night and our vets believe this was probably a reaction to fireworks. Roxie had access to her den but the frightening noises seem to have been too much for her. We know that fireworks can cause stress to other animals in the zoo and we cannot rule out that they may have contributed to the untimely death of Roxie’s mother, Ginger, just five days earlier.” Ben Supple, deputy chief executive of the above-mentioned society.
Ben Supple has urged the UK and Scottish governments to tighten restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks because of the “fear and distress” they cause to pets, livestock and zoo animals. In short, the society wants tighter controls on fireworks. I would wholly endorse that request. It’s beyond time that this happened. My personal preference would be for fireworks to be only displayed in organised settings run by local authorities or licensed organisations. Fireworks should no longer be sold to the public on an ad hoc basis to be used in backyards.
Below is some more information about how fireworks cause extreme stress in some companion animals.
While precise statistics are limited with respect to the number of pets harmed by fireworks due to stress, it’s well-documented that fireworks can cause significant distress in pets, particularly in cats and dogs, and, in extreme cases, lead to severe health complications or even death. Here’s a breakdown of what is known:
- Increased Panic and Escapes: Fireworks often trigger intense fear responses, especially in dogs, which can lead to escape attempts and accidents. Reports indicate that shelters see a spike in lost pets around times of fireworks events (e.g., Fourth of July in the U.S., New Year’s Eve, and Bonfire Night in the UK). Pets who run away may face risks such as traffic accidents, getting lost, or injuries from trying to escape confined spaces.
- Heart Attacks and Stress-Related Complications: Stress from fireworks can cause physiological responses, including increased heart rate and adrenaline spikes. For animals with pre-existing health conditions, particularly cardiovascular issues, this stress can be fatal. Some veterinarians have reported cases where pets suffer heart attacks due to extreme fear, although exact figures on fatalities directly caused by fireworks-induced stress are not widely available.
- Behavioral Changes Leading to Declining Health: Pets, especially cats, may develop chronic stress-related issues if they are exposed to repeated traumatic events like fireworks displays. Chronic stress can lead to lowered immunity, reduced appetite, and behavioral issues, indirectly impacting their long-term health.
- Limited Data Collection: Veterinary and animal welfare organizations are increasingly recognizing the impact of fireworks on pets, but consistent tracking of stress-induced deaths specifically from fireworks is lacking. Most data points are from reports to animal shelters, veterinary anecdotal accounts, and emergency clinics, rather than large-scale studies.
- Wildlife Impact: Although harder to quantify, fireworks are also known to harm wildlife, which, similar to pets, may die from stress, accidents, or disorientation during firework events.
While the exact number of pets that die from fireworks stress each year remains uncertain, the problem is serious enough that some regions are considering regulations to restrict fireworks use to limit the impact on animals.
There are many heartbreaking accounts of cats and dogs severely impacted or even nearly killed by the stress from fireworks. For example, a dog owner described a traumatic New Year’s Eve experience when their dog, despite being on calming medication, suffered a life-threatening respiratory crisis due to extreme panic. The dog’s anxiety escalated to the point where his airways swelled, his lungs began to collapse, and he had to be rushed to an emergency vet, where he was immediately intubated. Despite proactive steps like calming aids, this extreme reaction demonstrates how severe firework anxiety can be for some animals, particularly rescues that may already be predisposed to intense fear responses.
Other pet owners have similarly noted severe panic symptoms in their animals—ranging from uncontrolled pacing, destructive behavior, or even urinating and defecating indoors due to stress. Many pets try to escape the noise and lights, sometimes injuring themselves or going missing in the process. These stories highlight that, while not every animal has such severe reactions, those who do can be at serious risk, and owners often feel helpless despite using various anxiety-relief strategies like soundproofing rooms, medication, and behavior therapy.
Both the ASPCA and Humane Society advise that, in addition to preparing safe spaces for pets indoors, alternatives to traditional fireworks such as silent fireworks or drone light shows are safer for animals and prevent these dangerous incidents, which are especially common around holidays like the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve. For pet owners with severely affected animals, consulting a veterinary behaviorist may be necessary to manage phobias that could otherwise worsen over time.
Sources: ASPCA, Humane Society, Vet Help Direct.
