Are Fireworks Really Dangerous for Animals?

MYTH: Dogs Are Terrified of Fireworks

This is the biggest myth we come across almost daily. There's a growing trend summed up by the phrase:
“I don’t use fireworks because I love animals.”
If you search online for dogs and fireworks, you’ll be met with thousands of articles claiming that dogs panic from fireworks — each story more dramatic than the last, all sounding eerily similar.

But the truth is very different.

Yes — some dogs don’t handle noise well.
Just like some dogs don’t eat meat. Or never bark. In nature, nothing is black or white.
Dogs, like people, have their own personalities, likes, and dislikes. A vet friend once told us about a dog so afraid of elevators that its owner had to walk up and down from the 10th floor every day.
Sure, that affected both their health. But would it be fair to say all dogs suffer from claustrophobia? Of course not.

Same goes for fireworks.

Search YouTube for dog loves fireworks, and you’ll find countless videos of dogs that actually enjoy them.
Don’t believe us? Click one of these links: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 – just a few examples proving not all dogs are afraid of fireworks. In fact, many are curious or relaxed.

But what about all those dogs ending up in shelters after New Year's Eve?

Fireworks critics often use “love for animals” as an emotional weapon. It’s a simple form of manipulation — because who doesn’t love animals? Who wouldn’t be moved by a scared puppy or kitten?

As New Year’s approaches, we see more and more pleas warning about animals flooding into shelters out of panic caused by fireworks.

So we did our homework and checked the stats.

We analyzed data from multiple shelters across Poland that maintain public admission records. Here's what we found:

Schronisko na Paluchu (Warsaw Shelter)

The numbers for December/January show no increase in animal intake.
In fact, the number of animals admitted during this period is often lower than in summer months.
It’s a sad truth: most pets are abandoned in summer, when vacations begin and care becomes “inconvenient.”

Even though “Na Paluchu” is one of the most well-known shelters in Poland, this trend is consistent across the country.

Promyk Shelter in Gdańsk

Reviewing detailed reports on admissions and interventions, we again saw no spike in December or January.
Summer, again, saw the most animal intakes.

So where’s the real problem?

It's clear: the media’s portrayal of mass pet escapes, injuries, and deaths caused by fireworks is greatly exaggerated — or outright false.

You won’t find supporting data in official reports from:

• animal shelters

• veterinary clinics

• law enforcement or animal protection services

In one article, we read:

“Terrified dogs run blindly for over 30 km. Many never return. Others are hit by cars or die in the forest from hunger and exhaustion…”

Our question is simple:
How do these dogs escape from closed homes or apartments?
Have you ever heard of a dog breaking a window in panic during a fireworks show?
Of course not.

If a dog escapes, it means it was kept outside.
So ask yourself:
What responsible owner keeps their dog outdoors in winter — sometimes in -20°C — especially on New Year’s Eve, knowing their dog might be scared?

Fireworks and Animals – Finding a Compromise

Let’s be honest — the real danger to animals on New Year’s Eve isn’t music or fireworks.
It’s people:

• intoxicated individuals misusing fireworks

• children left unsupervised throwing firecrackers at pets

• people ignoring safety instructions

That’s what causes trauma.
No wonder some dogs fear fireworks later on.

Let’s also remember — such behavior is illegal, and should be reported to the authorities.
Offenders may face years in prison.

We invite you to join the initiative by the Pyrotechnics Education Foundation and Karmimy Psiaki.
They’ve launched a campaign to raise awareness about pet care during New Year’s.
All proceeds from their educational posters go to animal support programs.

Posters are available in our wholesale store or can be added to any online order. Details → [link]

MYTH: Fireworks Harm Wild Animals

The most common claim?
That fireworks cause panic in birds, leading them to crash into buildings, power lines, or die mid-air.

This claim stems from a 2011 Dutch study titled "Birds flee en masse from New Year’s Eve fireworks".
Since then, it’s been used by environmental activists as ammo against fireworks.

What did the study actually say?

During a New Year’s fireworks show in Utrecht, researchers noticed birds flying up and circling above the city.
No bird deaths were recorded.
Still, opponents built a narrative of mass bird deaths and panic.

What about airports?

Every airport in the world employs falconers to scare away birds.
Why? Because birds can cause plane crashes if they fly into engines.

And yet planes generate 120–130 dB of noise every few minutes.

In comparison:

• Max legal noise from fireworks = 120 dB

• Average fireworks display = 70–90 dB

All fireworks must pass strict sound level certifications before going to market.

So, if birds can live near 130 dB airports, how would a 5-minute fireworks show kill them?

We highly recommend reading this article about falconers at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport → [link].

No Pyrotechnics, No Agriculture

Ask any farmer — wildlife like boars and crows cause major crop damage.
That’s why farmers and orchardists have been the top firecracker customers for decades.

They use:

• bang ropes (long chains of firecrackers)

• sound cannons (producing 100–130 dB bangs every few minutes)

Yet even these don’t work long-term.
Animals quickly get used to the sound and return.

Bieszczady Bears

In 2019, the mayor of Solina asked authorities for permission to scare off bears damaging property and beehives.
The Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection approved it.

Since then, sound cannons, rubber bullets, and firecrackers have been legally used in Bieszczady to prevent damage.

“Bears were entering private property, destroying hives.
It’s my responsibility to protect residents,” said Mayor Adam Piątkowski.

The RDOŚ confirmed that such methods are safe and non-harmful to wildlife.
They prevent animals from becoming over-acclimated to humans, which can lead to worse consequences later.

And finally, here's one of our furry team members, Sookie, who’s been helping us at shows for over 7 years — pictured here at the Ełk Fire & Water Festival 🐶🎇