Fireworks Bring Joy to Us, But Fear to Our Pets

Every December, Belize lights up with fireworks and firecrackers, a tradition woven into our celebrations from Independence Day to New Year’s Eve. But while these bursts of color and sound thrill many of us, who pays the price? Animal advocates, veterinarians, and pet owners say the cost is high, pets terrified, wildlife traumatized, and even vulnerable people losing sleep or battling anxiety. And there’s another layer, these fireworks aren’t just festive, they’re explosives, and using them without a license is against the law. So why does this continue unchecked? Tonight, we dig deeper into the tension between tradition and responsibility, and ask, can we celebrate the Christmas Season without causing harm? News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Fireworks and firecrackers, they’ve been part of Belize’s celebrations for generations, from Independence Day to Christmas and ringing in the New Year. But while those bursts of color and sound thrill us, for pets, they can be terrifying, and even dangerous. Sheila Ford, Director of the Corozal Animal Welfare Advocates, knows firsthand the challenges these festive traditions bring for animals and their owners.

 

Sheila Ford, Director, Corozal Animal Welfare Advocates

“From what I see we lose a lot of animals when the fireworks are set off or the cherry bombs or whatever you want to call them, often times and especially in Belize so much animals are unsecured they run off. They can get knocked down by cars. They cannot find their way homes. The ones that are home are terrified, shaking under their beds.”

 

Michelle Rudon, President of the Society for the Promotion of Animal Rescue and Kindness, shares those same concerns.

 

Michelle Rudon, President, SPARK

“As animal welfare volunteers we are complaining a lot when it comes to the effects we see on the animals. We are getting the calls and messages to go and rescue the pets missing. I saw on Christmas night, first hand, the effects on a dog. Literally right in front of me and I was blown away by it. We know it is extreme, severe, to see it first hand, because the little dog was just sitting on the street and they started bursting cherry bombs on the street and it was not even that close to where we were but the sound was so amplified to that dog that she awas literally going crazy, running around, zigzagging across the street.”

 

These Animal welfare advocates are now calling on the relevant authorities to act. They point to a rise in cases where pets are left distressed, or even injured, when fireworks and firecrackers explode near homes. Doctor Jane Crawford, a veterinarian at the Animal Medical Center, sees the trauma and severe injuries pets suffer during this season.

 

Dr. Jane Crawford, Veterinarian, Animal Medical Center

“Here at the clinic we see the aftereffects of this because we get the animals that come in, get lost, get on the streets, get hit. Just for this Christmas, Christmas morning I was working and we had one that came in that jumped off the verandah and it got severely injured and had to go into emergency surgery. And it is not only dogs that get affected. It is also wild animals, so areas where you have birds, everything gets traumatized by the noise and different activities that go on continuously. Sometimes you think your fence is securing but sometimes the animals get so agitated that they chew through their fences to get away from the constant sounds. We have had over this Christmas time, we have done emergency surgery on three animals that were injured, because they tried to get away.”

 

And it’s not just pets feeling the impact, some members of the public, like the elderly and those who are ill, are also struggling with sleepless nights and heightened anxiety. Here’s something many don’t realize: every firework and firecracker is classified as an explosive, and in Belize, handling them without a license is against the law. Yet, despite the regulations, authorities admit it’s nearly impossible to fully clamp down on illegal use, especially during the holiday season.

 

Halima Santos, Accountant, SPARK

“I know that there is a law, Chapter 134 in the laws of Belize that talks about Dangerous Goods Act where these kinds of explosives they are suppose to be sold to those with license and I think this is all for the safety of not just human beings, but also animals, because the distress they put these animals under when these things are going off, it is too much. These things are sold illegally. You are telling me everyone in their homes has these dynamites and it is, ok?”

 

They’re calling on everyone to celebrate responsibly, because no animal should have to suffer in silence for the sake of tradition. Shiela Ford suggests the implementation of a time frame for the use of fireworks, while Michelle Rudon is calling for a ban on firecrackers.

 

Michelle Rudon

“A lot of countries abroad have been investing in silent fireworks. It is not completely silent but it is much quieter and that way we get to enjoy the beauty of fireworks. Now when it comes to the cherry bombs and the dynamites, don’t even give a time when those can be burst. If it was up to me I would ban them completely, completely.”

 

Festive fireworks may light up the skies, but they can also spell trouble for pets, wildlife, and people who are most at risk. Plus, under Belizean law, handling explosives without a license is against the rules. Reporting for News Five, I’m Paul Lopez.