Ffireworks and barrels typical of New Year’s Eve celebrations they are symbols of the holiday. But we can do without itfor our good, the animals and the environment.
New Year’s Eve bangs, the risks for domestic and wild animals
Lav explains in his own mini-guide for the protection of animals from barrels: land strong explosions and sudden and intermittent lights trigger in animals behaviors typical of their species for survival, even with catastrophic consequences. It is estimated that the deaths are very numerous, but they are not registered.
There are many municipalities that try to stem the damage caused to people and animals with prohibition orders published in the last weeks of the year, however the provision was sometimes annulled by the TAR following appeals made by traders of pyrotechnic articles.
A law to ban barrels that exceeds the ordinances of the Municipalities
According to the Doxa Survey commissioned by Lav last year, 94% of Italians are against the use of barrels for New Year’s Eve celebrations. 63% are completely willing to give them up and 31% already don’t use them. 94% are therefore willing to celebrate with alternative methods to barrels and 93% believe that institutions should do more to protect animals and human beings.
Hence the request to give life to a national law banning barrels, which Lav will also propose again in the next legislature: in the meantime it has prepared a proposal for a regulation which aims to ban only category F2 and F3 fires for reasons of public and/or environmental/animal safety and which the Municipalities can adopt to minimize the possibility of it being challenged.
Environmental damage: record levels of PM10 between New Year’s Eve and January
The proven danger concerns people, animals and the environment.
It has been demonstrated by the multi-year report conducted by ARPA Lombardia that between the end of the year and the beginning of the new one there is a constant increase in the levels of PM10 particulate matter in the air, with a peak occurring between midnight and the early hours of the following day. PM10 levels are reached 2 to 5 times higher than the previous and following days, and up to 2-3 times higher than the daily limit value established by the European Union for the protection of human health. Furthermore, the residues of the barrels, such as cartridges and unexploded firecrackers, pollute the soil and water.
Then there are the accidents: the State Police highlight a general increase in human injuries, with a decrease in those with less than 40 days of prognosis, but with a significant increase in serious ones with a higher prognosis. In particular, if in 2024 there were 274 people affected, of which 49 hospitalised, at the beginning of 2025 there were 309, of which 69 hospitalised. Among the wounded also increases number of minors involved, rose from 64 to 90.
Lav’s escape animal assistance service
Finally, the animals who, for their part, suffer the impact of the bangs in an extremely serious way. Dogs and cats, whose very sensitive hearing makes them designated victims, they can be prey to uncontrollable terror with even lethal outcomes. In fact, human hearing is able to perceive a range of sounds up to 20 thousand hertz, the dog up to 40/46 thousand hertz, the cat up to 70,000 Hz, just to give some examples – declares the LAV – Every January 1st there is a long series of reports of dead or injured animals, or of losses following escapes.
Precisely for this reason the LAV Emergency Unit, as already last year, has activated a assistance and search service for escaped animals, which this time will focus on the territory of Florence and the surrounding areas, intervening to rescue any injured people and taking action to search for dogs and cats that have escaped from homes.
How to take care of animals on New Year’s Eve
LAV has published some advice on how to take care of your pets on the occasion of New Year’s Eve. Not just stray dogs and cats, but also the birds or mammals that populate urban centres, who, frightened by the bangs, can die of a heart attack or try to escape, ending up seriously injured. The case of the s. is emblematicstarling tragedy occurred in Rome on New Year’s Eve 2021in which hundreds of birds died when they hit the ground during the explosions.
End of year toast with dogs and cats? Closed windows and relaxing music
To minimize the risk of accidents and try to live the longest night of the year peacefully and safely, Lav suggests some behaviors.
1. Plan a trip out of townfar from urban centers and the noise of bangs and firecrackers.
2. Consult a veterinary behaviorist to identify suitable solutions to avoid or reduce the animal’s sense of fear or panic. Avoiding DIY solutions (like tranquilizers without the advice of the vet).
3. Equip your dog or cat with microchip and a tag with contact details. If the dog is particularly fearful, an anti-escape harness is recommended.
4. Schedule a long daytime walk and a quick outing at dusk on December 31st, before the celebrations begin.
5. Do not leave animals unattended, not even on terraces and balconies or in the fenced garden. And don’t keep dogs tied up, they could strangle themselves.
New Year’s Eve bangs, anti-panic tips for pets
6. On New Year’s Eve, the advice is to let him choose a quiet area to spend the evening, near his family or in his usual rest area. Some soothing music and interactive games with hidden food can help. Windows and shutters must be kept closed to avoid fright from sudden noises and flashes.
7. The animal must be free to move and seek his master if and when he wishes. Some studies have linked caring attitudes to increased endorphins in the brain, which help relieve stress. Better not to overdo the reassurances so as not to
increase his concern.
8. If the dog is not terrified of fireworks or if it is a puppy, the moment the fires start you can drop some food by surprise
super delicious: delicious prizes with every blowout. AND the opportunity to create the association “fireworks = festoon
of food, hurray!”.
7. In the following days, pay attention to unexploded barrels: They can cause serious damage to the muzzle, limbs and eyes.
If the animal disappears
What if the animal disappears? One must be submitted immediately loss report to the Municipal Police or other police force and notifies the public Veterinary Service and the kennels in the area. Animals that flee in panic, especially cats, often do they hide in places they deem safe near the house, sometimes becoming trapped. It is therefore important to look for them carefully and first of all in cellars, garages, attics, etc.
Wild animals on New Year’s Eve: how to help them overcome the trauma of the bangs
But there is something we can also do to help wild animals who have been traumatized by the bangs and who may be disoriented. To facilitate their recovery and encourage the reunification of families, in particular of birdsyou can leave a few bowls of fresh water, seeds, or pieces of cake at their disposal. For the small mammals that live in urban parkssuch as hedgehogs, in addition to water, a bowl stocked with kibble for small cats is also useful.
In the case of injured wild animals, it is essential to immediately request the intervention of the CRAS (Wild Animal Recovery Centre) competent for the area, by contacting the Provincial Police or the Forestry Carabinieri.