Paws the Bangs: Fireworks Pet Safety Tips to Keep Your Pets Calm and Safe

26th September 2025

Fireworks may be fun for us, but for our pets they can be terrifying. Loud bangs, sudden flashes of light, and unexpected noises can cause fear, anxiety, and even injury. Every year, thousands of animals across the UK suffer during fireworks season.

That’s why Petpals, together with our in-house vet Dr. Sophie Bell (Animal Love First Aid), have launched our Paws the Bangs campaign – a nationwide initiative to raise awareness and share expert advice on how to keep pets safe during fireworks.

Why Fireworks Scare Pets

Understanding your pet’s behaviour is the first step to helping them. Animals such as dogs, cats, horses, and even small pets like rabbits experience fireworks very differently from humans. Their hearing is far more sensitive, so sudden loud noises and unpredictable flashes can trigger:

• Trembling, shaking, or cowering

• Hiding or trying to escape

• Barking, whining, or meowing excessively

• Loss of appetite or restlessness

These are natural coping mechanisms, not bad behaviour. Recognising this helps us respond with patience and care.

How to Calm Your Dog During Fireworks

If you’re wondering how to calm your dog during fireworks, here are some of the most effective techniques:

• Sound desensitisation: Play firework noises at a very low level outside of firework season, gradually increasing the volume as your dog stays calm.

• Safe retreat: Let your dog choose a hiding spot and make it comfortable with blankets, toys, or even an item of your clothing.

• Soothing aids: Thundershirts, pheromone diffusers, or calming supplements such as Nutracalm may help reduce stress.

• Stay calm yourself: Pets are great at reading our body language. If you remain relaxed, your pet is more likely to feel reassured.

Firework Safety Tips for Cats, Horses, and Small Pets

Dogs aren’t the only ones affected – cats, horses, and smaller pets also need extra protection during fireworks season.

• Cats: Keep them indoors, close windows and curtains, provide several litter trays around the house and allow access to different hiding spots.

• Horses: Stable them before dark, ensure fencing is secure, and play calming music to reduce stress.

• Rabbits and small pets: Bring hutches indoors or cover them with thick blankets to muffle sounds while ensuring ventilation.

Practical Steps to Prepare Pets for Fireworks Season

Here are some quick, vet-approved ways to prepare now:

1. Plan exercise early – walk dogs before dusk to avoid fireworks.

2. Secure your home – shut doors, windows, and curtains to block out flashes and sounds.

3. Provide distractions – try chew toys, licky mats, or puzzle feeders to occupy pets.

4. Check microchips – ensure your pet’s details are up to date in case they bolt in fear.

Download Your Free Pet Fireworks Safety Guide

We’ve created a free Pet Fireworks Safety Guide packed with practical tips and expert advice to help you keep your pets calm, comfortable, and safe during fireworks season.

Inside, you’ll find:
✔ Step-by-step preparation checklists for dogs, cats, horses, and small pets
✔ Behaviour insights from our in-house vet, Dr. Sophie Bell
✔ Tried-and-tested calming techniques you can use right away
✔ Kind alternatives to fireworks

Whether you’re a dog owner, a cat lover, or caring for smaller pets, this guide will give you peace of mind when the bangs begin.

👉 Download your free Pet Fireworks Safety Guide here

Join the Paws the Bangs Campaign

At Petpals, animal welfare is at the heart of what we do. Through Paws the Bangs, we’re helping pet owners across the UK feel confident about protecting their pets during fireworks.

💜 Follow our campaign on social media using #PawsTheBangs for more fireworks safety tips.
💜 Share our resources with other pet owners to help make fireworks season less frightening for animals everywhere.

More info

Fireworks season doesn’t have to mean fear for your pets. With preparation, patience, and the right advice, you can make a huge difference in keeping them calm and safe.

👉 To find out more about our campaign visit: Paws the Bangs

🧑‍🎓 Want to learn more about ways you can help your pets during fireworks? Our in-house vet Dr. Sophie Bell will be holding an online webinar “Noise is a No No” on Thursday 16th October from 6.30pm. Here, you’ll learn simple, effective ways to prepare your home, reduce stress, and keep your pet calm during firework season. For just £8, you’ll gain expert advice you can put into practice straight away. Visit: Noise is a No No | Animal Love