Keeping Animals Safe From the Scaries on Guy Fawkes

Photo Credit: Maga Ehlers via Unsplash

The same fireworks that light up the sky rattle more than just a few nerves down below. Please read this before the fireworks start tonight.

South Africa (05 November 2025) – While it’s not a South African holiday, the Guy Fawkes tradition still creeps its way in every year. It’s honestly endearing that South Africans will celebrate even when we sometimes don’t understand why, but fireworks are harmful and cause trauma for so many animals.

That’s why we have to speak up.

For pet owners and animal welfare organisations, this time of year is about battening down the hatches and keeping terrified animals safe.

Dogs and cats often panic, run away, or hurt themselves trying to escape the sound. Birds abandon nests, and wildlife flee into unfamiliar and sometimes dangerous spaces in fear. The explosions confuse them; they don’t understand what’s happening, only that it’s loud and scary.

But with your love and care, you can make a big difference in keeping your pets (and local wildlife) safe from the scaries.

Here are some good ways to do so:

Visit your vet and ask for something to calm your pets ahead of time, if you know they become especially scared.
Ensure your pets are microchipped with all details up to date.
Make sure that animals are inside (the house, not outdoor kennels) before the first firework goes off. Once they’re scared, it’s much harder to calm them down.
Keep them in a space they’re familiar with, and include their favourite toys and treats nearby.
Draw all curtains and close windows in the house. This will help block out the scaries.
Play calming sounds; having the TV on can help mask the explosions.
Feed them before dark. A full tummy helps many animals relax and rest more easily.
Give them something to chew or lick. Chew toys can distract dogs for hours.
Exercise early on. Walk dogs before sunset so they’re tired and less likely to stress later.
Keep your own energy calm. Pets mirror our emotions. If you stay calm, they’re more likely to do the same.
Don’t scold or force interactions. If they hide, let them. Comfort them gently without adding more stimulation.
Double-check that all doors and gates are secured; frightened animals can squeeze through the smallest gaps.
Cover cages and tanks. Birds, rabbits, and other small pets feel safer in darker, quieter spaces.
Don’t light fireworks near wildlife areas. Avoid trees, wetlands, green belts and reserves. You are only allowed to light fireworks in designated areas.
If you can, stay with your pet for the night. Don’t leave them alone.
Report cruelty or illegal firework use. It’s a criminal offence to harm or terrify an animal.
It goes without saying, but avoid taking them to firework displays.

Even with all these precautions, shelters see a worrying surge in rescues on Guy Fawkes every year. Animal welfare shelters and organisations work around the clock to help terrified, lost, and injured animals, often long after the fireworks have actually ended.

Many of these animals are found a distance from home, dehydrated, disoriented, or hit by cars. Shelter teams spend days scanning for microchips, treating injuries, and trying to reunite pets with their families. It’s exhausting work, and it’s entirely made possible by the kindness of people who care enough to help.

So, if you want to lend a hand where it’s needed, there are ways to show support at your local animal shelter:

Drop off supplies. Shelters always need food, blankets, leads, and calming aids during firework season.
Foster a pet for the week. Temporarily housing animals reduces overcrowding in shelters.
Offer your time. Many organisations need volunteers to help comfort animals, answer phones, or assist with rescues.
Keep an eye out for strays. If you spot a frightened or lost animal, safely contain them if possible and call your nearest welfare group.
Create and share missing pet posts. Social media helps lost pets find their way home faster.
Educate your community. Remind friends and neighbours to think of animals before setting off fireworks.
Share emergency contact numbers for local organisations with your community groups.
Offer lifts. If you have a car, help transport rescued animals or supplies for welfare teams.
Sponsor medical treatments. Many frightened animals arrive injured, and your donation can directly fund their recovery. Any donation helps.
Follow your local shelter on social media. Share their calls for help and updates.
Thank the rescuers. A small message of support goes a long way for exhausted welfare staff.