Crackers absolutely petrify animals and I think it is really cruel to burst crackers in the presence of animals, without considering the risk it can put their life in, as.unlike human beings, they cannot understand that people  buy these crackers  to celebrate a festival with noise and colours.  Crackers  can create deafness in them and also make them nervous wrecks

Crackers absolutely petrify animals.  Unlike human beings they cannot understand that Diwali is a festival of noise and colours and people indulge in buying crackers to enjoy themselves.  To them, crackers  can hurt them, create deafening noise and make them sometimes go deaf, create fear in them and many times make them nervous wrecks for life.  Hence, at this time, it is very very necessary for all animal owners to first of all create an awareness on the risks of crackers both to human beings and  pets among their family members and friends.  The next thing they should do it to make sure that their pets stay with them, perhaps hold them close to them and keep assuring them in loving tones that they do not have to worry about anything. They should be handled the same way we do with children. They should never ever lock their pets all by themselves, unless it is very necessary and they feel that the pet is safer being locked up in a quiet place and that they cannot get into any  harm this way. But this too is risky as the pets cannot deal with such situations all by themselves, without you being by their side.

Crackers put many animals at risk, including death.  It is really sad to see people burst crackers on the streets, and many stray dogs and cattle run helter shelter for cover and are petrified.

There was a time, a long time ago, when my daughters were young and hand their friends come over for Diwali  to celebrate.  Since I cannot keep so many pets indoors and keep assuring them that they are safe, I  made sure that  all my pets, dogs , cats and puppies  were all locked up safely in the kennels and rooms. The next morning, when I went to see all the dogs and puppies and cats, I was shocked to see all of them petrified and huddled together.  I was even more shocked when I went to see the puppies.  One of them had pooped out his intestines in absolute fear.  This was the last time Crackers were ever burst on my farm. Even though the kids had burst crackers at a distance, the noise had frightened them so much and it pains me even this day, tothink of that incident.  But I hope, with my personal   bad experience, people are wiser and do not burst crackers.