Klekusiowo: I love, respect, sympathize – I do not set off fireworks on New Year’s Eve

The dispute between supporters and opponents of using fireworks has been going on for a long time. Supporters claim that nothing will happen if people set off a few fireworks once in a while, that it is acceptable once a year, for example on New Year’s Eve, that storms occur in nature, that the military also fires on training grounds, and so on.

Opponents, in turn, point out that animals are very afraid of flashes and bangs, often flee, and sometimes even die. They also claim that people suffering from certain mental disorders suffer during the explosions of firecrackers as well...

Why is Klekusiowo opposed to using fireworks? Read what the people who care for animals every day think about it:

Most animals, both wild and domestic, hear sounds that are much quieter and cover a much wider frequency range than those heard by humans, which is why firecracker explosions are a nightmare for them. Dogs, for example, hear sounds 3–4 times louder than people do. Cats experience them as bomb explosions at close range. Animals react to flashes of light with panic and try to flee. When they see flashing lights, their stress increases even further. Animals thrash about in panic.

Animals do not understand that it is “just human entertainment”

Birds take flight and, unable to see, crash into walls and other obstacles. Sometimes they die of heart attacks. Bats... awakened by the barrage begin a frantic flight and die from hypothermia. We also have other wild animals living in our neighbourhood—wild boar, roe deer, hares... Fleeing in panic, they crash into things or run under cars. Did these people consider what happens in city parks and zoos?

And farm animals? Locked in stalls and cages... They have nowhere to flee. They are terrified. Trapped in the New Year’s Eve celebration...

Will anyone with this knowledge stop this form of entertainment? Unfortunately not... We hope that social pressure and social ostracism will cause this type of celebration to decrease year by year. It can already be seen that in many circles setting off fireworks is becoming, colloquially speaking, embarrassing. It is becoming synonymous with boorishness, backwardness, ignorance, intellectual poverty, unenlightenment, narrow-mindedness and stupidity.

So...

Don’t make a spectacle of yourself (not to be confused with your place of residence) and don’t set off fireworks on New Year’s Eve (...).

How can we help animals survive this difficult time?

One way is to calm a cat or dog with medication. After checking the pet’s health, the veterinarian will recommend suitable preparations. Some are herbal, while others are medicines. It all depends on the pet. Such preparations are usually started several days before the climax of the New Year’s Eve celebrations.

On New Year’s Eve, there are other ways to help our beloved companions. Their favourite blanket—or even several blankets—can give the animal somewhere to hide. Close the windows to reduce the noise. Draw the curtains so that the flashes do not reach inside. Turn on the radio or television to drown out the sounds of explosions.

What about dogs? They have to go for walks!

It is best to take the dog for a long walk before nightfall so that it is truly tired. Make sure the harness fits well, is fastened securely, and that the dog cannot slip out of it. Sometimes a dog panics and pulls away from its owner. During this terrible time for animals, it is worth attaching a tag with the address and telephone number. The lost animal can then return home much more quickly. Such an identification tag can save its life. Let us remember: the sooner the dog returns to its owner, the shorter its trauma will be. It will not have to wait in a rescue centre, shelter or somewhere else.

The sad fact is that around New Year’s Eve there are the most listings for missing and found animals...

Taking this opportunity, we encourage you to help Ośrodek Rehabilitacji Dzikich Zwierząt Klekusiowo in Tomaszów Bolesławiecki. Klekusiowo helps various animals—both small and large.

The number of animals at the centre is constantly increasing, and the costs of maintaining it are growing. Sick, injured or abandoned animals receive loving care there. Visit klekusiowo.pl and see how you can help.