A mother dog and her four puppies have been rescued in Cape Town after being caught up in the chaos caused by Guy Fawkes fireworks — a small rescue that says a lot about what fireworks night does to animals.
According to the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa, the frightened mother was desperately trying to move her puppies to safety as fireworks exploded around them. The animal welfare team managed to locate the family and bring them to safety, the society said. With fireworks continuing across parts of the city, animal welfare teams have been working in different areas to respond to emergencies and assist animals affected by the noise and commotion.
Fireworks night is the worst night
Guy Fawkes night is one of the hardest nights of the year for animals. The noise, the flashes and the sudden bangs send dogs and cats bolting in panic — into roads, through fences, and away from the homes and litters they were trying to protect. A mother dog with four puppies has five reasons to panic and five lives depending on her staying put.
The Animal Welfare Society of South Africa had a team on duty for Guy Fawkes specifically to respond to pet emergencies and reports of animal welfare concerns, the society said ahead of the night. There are no designated fireworks sites in Cape Town for Guy Fawkes, Diwali or New Year’s Eve, which means the noise comes from everywhere at once — and the animals have nowhere to run that is quiet.
Five lives, one team
For this family, the rescue came in time. The mother was trying to move her puppies when the team found them, which is exactly the behaviour that gets dogs killed on fireworks night: a frightened animal carrying its young across unfamiliar ground, in the dark, with explosions going off around it.
The society’s message ahead of the night was the usual one, and it bears repeating: keep dogs and cats safely indoors, with windows and doors closed. For one mother and four puppies in Cape Town, the team arrived before the night could do worse. Five lives, one rescue, and a reminder that the noise that lasts a few seconds for people can be a life-threatening event for an animal.
