Pet-Friendly Diwali
Oct 14, 2025
A Celebration of Light, Not Fear
Diwali brings joy, warmth and light into our homes. But for our four-legged and feathered friends, it can be one of the most stressful times of the year. While we enjoy the sparkle, they experience confusion, panic and fear. This year, let’s make Diwali truly bright — for every living being.
The Hidden Side of Fireworks
Firecrackers might light up the sky, but their impact on animals is far from festive.
DID YOU KNOW?
Most animals start showing signs of distress at 80 dB, but fireworks often cross 120–125 dB — louder than a jet engine!. These intense sounds trigger panic, trembling, loss of appetite, and even escape attempts among pets.
Street dogs and cats, with no safe place to hide, often run into traffic or get lost, while birds lose direction and collide due to sudden flashes of light.
The smoke and chemicals irritate their lungs, eyes, and skin — and since they breathe the same air, only closer to the ground, the effect is even worse.
What the Data Shows (2024–25)
Recent reports paint a clear picture of how serious the problem has become:
Ahmedabad: Over 450 animals and birds injured by fireworks, including 153 birds, 20 dogs, and 8 cats.
Thiruvananthapuram: Sharp rise in lost dog cases post-Diwali as pets fled in fear.
Delhi: Noise levels hit 88.7 dB, far above safe limits.
Ranchi & Gurgaon: Noise levels spiked up to 89 dB, exceeding legal limits by over 60%.
Across India: NGOs like PETA India and Friendicoes reported a 30–40% rise in injured or missing animals after Diwali.
Behind every number is a life affected — a pet hiding under the bed, a community dog limping from injury, or a bird that couldn’t find its way back home.
How to Keep Your Pets Calm & Safe during this time?
You don’t have to cancel celebrations — just make them kinder.
Take your pet for a long walk before sun set to help them relax or spend time playing so they get excess energy out.
A box full of treats and newspaper and grass could help them shred and sniff and distract.
Keep them indoors during peak firework hours, in a quiet room with curtains drawn and soft background music playing.
Earmuffs can also help some animals reduce the intensity of the loud noise of crackers
Offer a safe space like— their bed, their favorite toys, even the bathroom. Allow them to find a place where they feel safe. Our comforting voice goes a long way in reassuring them that they will be fine..
Avoid scolding or forcing them to “face” the noise. Reassurance is better than reaction.
In some severe cases, you may also consult a professional vet or behaviorist who can prescribe some soothing sprays.
For community animals, keep water and food bowls outside and open gates so they can take shelter. Educate adults and little children to not burst crackers around them or tease them with it.
A Brighter, Kinder Diwali
The true meaning of Diwali lies in spreading light — not fear. By choosing diyas over dynamite and compassion over crackers, we make the festival safer for all beings
#petfriendlydiwali #petsafediwali
