Diwali - the festival of lights – is one of the biggest festivals of India celebrating the victory of good over evil. Children and adults alike wait for the festival throughout the year, but is it the same for our pets? Let’s vow to celebrate a joyous pet safe Diwali this year. We should make sure that our happiness and exuberance does not become miserable for our four-legged family members. Amidst the celebrations, we should not forget to take care of our beloved pets.

This year, Supreme Court’s order of bursting crackers only between 8 to 10 PM has come as a boon for pet owners. The crackers allowed will be within permitted decibel limits and emission norms.

Animals have highly sensitive auditory senses and detect sounds even from the smallest of crackers in the neighborhood. Sounds with higher volumes and frequencies above 25,000 Hz become irritating for dogs. The louder and higher the sounds get, the more uncomfortable they become. Similar sounds are produced by fireworks which lead to fear, anxiety, and confusion in animals and it takes them weeks to return to their normal condition. Therefore during this time they like to hide in safe places, some may even run away from home, stop eating food, going out for walks etc.

The most important thing is to never leave your pet alone. In other words, someone should always be there to comfort them. If you are having a party, try and call those people your pet is familiar with. Also, never leave the door open. Being in a confused state your pet would want to leave the house and run away in search of a safer place. You should never punish your pet in any way for being afraid of noise.

Close the windows and doors to minimize the noise. You can also get PVC soundproofing sheets installed in a room of your house. The pets can also be accustomed to earmuffs or cotton. If your small pets such as rabbitsand guinea pigs have a cage, cover it with a blanket to buffer the noise.

Play instrumental music to soothe and calm your pet. You can also keep them engaged with their favorite toys and treats.

If your pet gets anxious easily, consult a veterinarian and keep his medicine ready. Keep a First Aid kit handy, in case any injuries take place.

Feed them before the lights and sounds in your area increase because they may be too anxious to eat after that. Keep food and water accessible to them at all times.

If they are looking for a place to hide, let them be as this is their coping mechanism. Don’t forcefully cuddle with them. If they want to be held, they'll come to you. You can also make a note of the places they go to hide and make them easily accessible to them.

Take them for a walk before people start bursting crackers and make sure to never take them through the area where they are being burst. Also, don’t take them out just after the crackers are burnt as sniffling gunpowder can be hazardous for them and can result in nausea, breathing difficulties, muscle spasms etc.

Store firecrackers in a closed box out of the reach of your pets. Keep them away from rangolis as they contain toxic colors and your pet may roll in them or lick them which can lead to food poisoning and skin infection. As your pet may not be used to lights and diyas, place them where they are not accessible to them.

Ensure that your pet is wearing an identification collar or tag with your contact information on it. In addition, tracking your pet will become easier if you microchip them. Also, if you find a lost pet either take her to the address on the tag or a local animal shelter.

Further, some extra measures can be to go for a pet-friendly location for a holiday. You can also buy an air purifier to remove indoor air pollutants, this will be healthier for both you and your pets. You can also encourage your society or colony members to burst crackers only at a designated location.