With firework displays starting to appear in the run-up to Bonfire Night, the RSPCA is urging owners to prepare now to protect anxious pets.
Firework displays are starting to crop up across the UK ahead of Bonfire Night, and for many pets the bangs, flashes and unpredictability are genuinely frightening. Preparing now, rather than on the night itself, makes a real difference.
Why fireworks are so hard on pets
It isn't just a mild dislike of noise. Many animals find fireworks scary, and owners will often see their pets struggling, either frozen with fear or, in the most dangerous circumstances, bolting, rearing up or charging fences. The scale of the problem is bigger than many owners realise: between 2021 and 2024, the RSPCA received over 14,000 responses to its impact survey, each detailing the impact of fireworks on pets, with many reporting devastatingly fearful reactions.
What actually helps
The charity's central message is simple: don't make things worse by reacting to the fear itself. Owners should never punish their pets when they're scared, because animals can't help their sensitivity to sound or their fear response, and reacting negatively to their reactions will only make things worse in the long run.
Preparation matters more than anything done on the night. Below are the RSPCA's top tips and advice to keep pets happy and safe throughout the season, and whether a pet is occasionally startled or severely afraid to the point of injury, there are ways to ease the effect of fireworks on them. That includes setting up a quiet, familiar space away from windows well before dusk, leaving pets with their usual bedding and toys, and staying home with them if displays are expected nearby.
Never punish a frightened pet. They cannot help how they react to the noise.
When to get extra help
For pets who struggle badly every year, it's worth talking to a professional well before November. If you're concerned about your pet's reaction to fireworks, the advice is to seek guidance from your vet, who can, if necessary, refer you to a professional clinical animal behaviourist.
Rabbits and other small pets kept outdoors benefit from extra bedding and a hutch moved to a quieter, covered spot, or brought into a garage or shed, during the noisiest weeks.
If your pet needs a check-up or a calming plan this season, you can compare vet prices near you.
Sources
Written with AI from the sources above and checked by a person before publishing.