CHENNAI: It is that time of the year again, a time when we observe a number of festivals, culminating in Diwali and Christmas by the year-end. However, the manner in which we celebrate causes irreparable damage to the environment, humans and animals. Festivals are meant to celebrate life, to thank the Creator for the gifts bestowed during the year. However, all that has changed now and the change comes at a cost to all lives.
Firecrackers, one of the by-products of our celebrations, are like a death knell to not only the environment but also all lives, both human and animal. Especially for the pets, animals and birds, it is veritably the worst time of the year. During Diwali, watch the behaviour and body language of the animals. Their tails are usually between their legs. Cowering in fear, they try to hide themselves, unable to stand the din of firecrackers.
Dogs and cats have highly sensitive hearing abilities. They hear sounds that the human ear cannot. That is why the sounds of continuous loud bursts are literally nerve-racking. Dogs may display psychological symptoms of stress like shivering, drooling, howling and excessive barking. Most of them look for dark corners to hide. Some suffer from loss of bladder control. Others get gripped with temporary diarrhea. Vets say that a sudden bright burst of light can result in partial or even permanent blindness. On top of that there has been a rise of inhuman incidents wherein an unsuspecting animal has been tied to a firecracker or have a firecrackers inserted in anus resulting in a painful and horrific death or disfigurement.
Have you noticed the behaviour of your pets during this time? If you see signs such as shaking, trembling, excessive barking and trying to hide or getting out of the house, you should understand that they are traumatised. In fact, a lot of pets also get disoriented, run out, and forget their way home. It is due to this that the maximum number of dogs go missing during festival times, especially Diwali.
The deafening crackers have been known to disorient birds, making them fly out of their shelters into alien corners in search of safety. As most birds have poor vision, especially at night, they bump into unknown objects and injure themselves. The smoke also affects them. The bright glare of burning firecrackers can also burn or permanently blind birds. Owls, kites and bats are the worst-affected. There is also a common practice of sacrificing owls during Diwali to usher in wealth and fortune despite owls being a protected species and hunting or killing them being punishable under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1960.
The recent Supreme Court verdict limiting the time of bursting crackers and also propagating the use of ‘green’ crackers is a step in the right direction. But what needs to be seen is the strict implementation of the ruling. Usually that is where we fail. Awareness and strict and swift action against the abusers are the only way out. Awareness needs to be created that bursting crackers is not good for animals or for humans or the environment. And this has to start at the micro level with your building society, with your child’s school and within your immediate community. We can take inspiration from villages of Vettangudi and Kollukudi Patti in Tamil Nadu, who have given up crackers on the festival, to provide an amiable environment to the migratory birds at Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary situated close to the villages.
It’s not just a dog or just a cow or just a bird,it’s a life, just like yours and mine.
How can you help?
Create awareness about celebrating the occasion safely, after all Diwali is a ‘Festival of light’,‘not sound’. Additionally, keep a lookout for your community animals. Give them temporary shelter. Keep your pet indoors during the festival. Finish their walks before the bursting of cracker starts. There are few organic and natural remedies to soothe and calm them like lavender oil and thebach flower remedy. Another way to soothe them is the ‘Thunder shirt’. You can use a towel or dupatta for this. Ensure it has access to a ‘safe place’ which can be under the bed or a table. Soothing and calming music can also help. It’s not a good idea to hug him if your pet is barking or is agitated. This will actually send a mixed signal to your pet. Ignore him and be calm.