Chuck is afraid of firecrackers. As soon as he hears one on the street, he begins to tremble nervously. He gets diarrhea. He only calms down when he comes home and hides under a bed or in the bathroom. However, Niu doesn’t seem to care too much about the noise of the masklets. She turns in surprise and tries to identify the source of the explosion, and when she can, lunges at the embers. Chuck is a small Schnauzer and Niu is a medium sized Labrador Retriever. Both live in central Valencia, the epicenter of the Fallas, where fireworks are an integral part of their character.
The celebrations begin their big week, which ends with the burning of the monuments on March 19th. But from day one there is already a very fallas atmosphere and the mascletàs (rhythmic composition of pyrotechnic explosions in which the visual effects are not essential as in nocturnal fireworks) are fired every day at 14:00, the social event and the most popular Fallas show of the Valencians.
Since then, the kennels have been filled with dogs and cats, albeit less, because as these are animals that do not have to leave their home, the noise from the street doesn’t bother them that much. Both have excellent hearing. In dogs (from 10,000 to 50,000 Hz) up to four times higher than in humans (with a hearing range of 10,000 to 20,000 Hertz) and even higher in cats (juveniles can reach 100,000 Hz). Therefore, noise affects them more than humans, regardless of their race and size.
Marina Miralles, a Valencian veterinarian and ethologist specializing in dog and cat behavior, explains that there are dogs “that are not afraid of firecrackers; others have moderate anxiety and then there are those who suffer from an intense phobia and can have a very bad time: they stop eating and urinating and even suffer from tachycardia, diarrhea or vomiting, and in very severe cases they can try to jump into the deep window when they are alone”. “The advantage of ground cats, which can also have a rough time, is that they don’t have to go out to relieve themselves and they have a stronger strategy for hiding in the home than dogs,” he says.
The firecrackers and the noise bother dogs in particular. Some animals suffer from anxiety, nervousness, vomiting, loss of appetite, change of habit. Monica Torres
The ideal is to take the dogs out of town. Get out of the festive area for a few days (like many non-fallas neighbors, with or without a dog) or take the animals to a residence or put them in the care of someone who lives away from the noise. If this is not possible, as is often the case, a combination of palliative treatments with pharmacology and natural products is recommended, says Miralles. It’s also wise to encourage hiding spots indoors where the animals will feel safer and more isolated. “For example, under a table, with a thick blanket over it that insulates against noise … In addition, you have to close the windows, turn on the television or the radio, avoid the usual noises that also isolate from the outside, the person alone animal” and him rest and give pats when he’s scared, he emphasizes.
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Eva can’t go to Fallas this year, but she’s already thinking about doing it next year to avoid Chuck these days. She and her family take the dog to the streets, often in their arms, with less celebratory fuss at the time. It’s not easy when you live in the center. In addition to the mascletàs and the castles (fireworks) organized by the municipality, each fallas festival has its own program and many Valencians, without having to be fallas, like to throw firecrackers (the power of which is limited) in the street. Buying light bulbs (very low wattage) for children is like a rite of passage.
Rocío and Mireia don’t hesitate to leave the city to go to the country for a few days with their dog Lola, who can resist firecrackers well, but with each explosion the rhythm of their steps increased a little last Sunday. “It’s not just unbearable for dogs. The falleros are taking over the city,” Mireia protests as she walks down a street occupied by one of the many tents in town. Silvia and Pedro are falleros and have just adopted a Milleches dog who has so far shown no fear of firecrackers. “We take it to the street or to the river [al jardín del Turia] a while and then he stays at home where there is hardly any noise,” they explain.
This year, the city council has recommended that no firecrackers be set off at siesta time (from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.) to rest and walk pets. It is a proposal, not an official restriction, as is theoretically the case at night, prohibiting the use of fireworks (from 2 a.m. to 7.30 a.m.) on the main festive days (from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.).
A young woman carries her dog in her arms during the Fallas. Monica Torres
Laura Evans’ clients are usually “very far-sighted” and reserve a place for these appointments “well in advance”. A “positive” dog trainer, she welcomes just over a dozen dogs to a country home in Canimals, in the town of Vilamarxant. He comments that no dog can enjoy a shrill sound like that of firecrackers, although sometimes he doesn’t manifest it graphically. “They can handle it better or worse, but how is it not going to affect them?” There are therapies that will help, and a few drops of CBD, a medical marijuana extract without the psychoactive ingredient, will facilitate relaxation, he points out. About cats, “very emotionally sensitive”, remember that although they do not have to go out on the street, which is good for them these days, it is very difficult for them to cope with changes in their environment.
The El Puerto dog and cat sanctuary in the city of Puçol is also full with 50 animals. “It’s always full on these dates. It’s normal, we’re in Valencia. Animals are having a hard time assimilating this madness we do with firecrackers. We have very loyal customers. It’s high season now, like the summer holidays,” says Moisés Albarracín, head of the center.
Niu doesn’t seem too bothered by firecrackers at the moment. Pictured in front of the Na Jordan Fault during its assembly. Monica Torres
Pets are also the subject of a thriving business. The range of nursing staff in your own home and walking aids, even in emergencies, advertised on the Internet is enormous. The prices are very wide, they vary from 10 to 12 euros per night depending on the service.