The Cape of Good Hope Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is calling on Capetonians to rethink celebrating Guy Fawkes.
Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated annually on November 5, involving bonfires and fireworks displays.
The day has its origins in the United Kingdom where it commemorates the failed Gunpowder plot of 1605.
The sound from fireworks can be heard seven times louder by animals, causing extreme stress for pets, wild animals, and birds.
Wild birds and other animals will flee, become disorientated, run onto highways, fly into buildings, or hide in other obstacles like pipes or drains and even abandon their nests, leaving offspring to suffer and die.
Pets will run in blind panic through glass door panes and even into oncoming traffic and those that find a hiding place will likely not find their way back home again.
The SPCA gave tips on how to calm pets during the fireworks:
Horses:
If you have a horse out in the field, check locally to see if there are going to be firework displays in your area and where possible, keep them in a stable where you can monitor their safety.
Birds:
Cover your bird’s cage to help muffle out the noise and the bright lights from the loud fireworks.
Remove the perch if you are afraid the bird will flap around and injure itself.
Play relaxing music for background noise.
Small animals:
Partially cover outside cages and pens with blankets so an area is soundproofed and hidden but allow for another area for the animals to look out.
Provide bedding that small animals can burrow in.
Consider bringing them indoors.
Cats:
Provide hiding places in your home for them to be safe.
Cats can become more stressed if they’re outside during the fireworks.
Microchip your cats in case they’re startled and escape outside and make sure the chip still works.
Dogs:
Close windows and curtains to muffle the sound of fireworks.
Put on some music or tv to mask the firework sounds.
Create a quiet space where your dog can feel safe.
Feed a nice meal for the evening.
Create some safe hiding places around your home for your pet.
Make sure your dog is microchipped and you have to check that the chip is still working.
Between November 3 - 5, 2022, the City of Cape Town recorded 325 incidents of setting off fireworks and 78 incidents of selling fireworks.
In 2023, the City recorded 225 and 40 incidents of setting off and selling fireworks respectively.
The Drakenstein Municipality, covering the areas of Paarl, Wellington, Mbekweni, Gouda, Hermon, Saron, and Simondium, said it remained illegal to set off fireworks in the municipal area with the exclusion of pre-approved events.
In 2020, the Drakenstein Municipal Council approved a ban on the discharging of fireworks in the municipal area.
This followed calls by residents, animal welfare organisations, and the business sector for the municipality to review its position on banning the use of fireworks.