Pet parade in QC calls for New Year revelry without fireworks

Rescue dogs joined house pets and fur-parents in a parade around a shopping mall in Quezon City on Thursday to campaign against the use of fireworks in welcoming the New Year.

Gray, a two-year-old dog who is afraid of fireworks, added his voice—or his bark, so to speak—to the cause.

"Nanginginig siya and parang ayaw niyang kumain, nase-stress," Gray's owner Eduardo Palting said of his pet's experience whenever it hears fireworks.

(Gray shudders and seemingly refuses to eat. He gets stressed.)

Sharon Yap of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said animals also experience diarrhea, anxiety, and even heart attacks because of their fear of fireworks.

Dr. Gelo Apostol, an environmental health specialist, said animals can experience post-traumatic stress disorder. Even their hearing is affected.

"For humans, we're able to hear up to 20,000hz. Dogs are able to hear up to 60,000hz so the impact of the loud noise is even much stronger, especially for certain animals. In the same way that in humans it can trigger manifestations of stress, mental health problems, for certain animals, it can manifest as some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder," Apostol said.

PAWS advised pet owners to walk or allow their pets to engage in physical activities so they are tired and calm before fireworks displays are lit up, keep pets indoors, make homes escape-proof, play soothing music, and cover pets in a calming wrap.

The Ecowaste Coalition has also asked the public not to throw firecrackers at animals.

The Department of Health (DOH) has also recently shared tips on how to take care of pets this New Year. — VDV, GMA Integrated News