Every firework is an explosion of fear

Impact on pets

While many people enjoy the dazzling display of fireworks to celebrate the New Year, these loud explosions can be incredibly frightening and distressing for animals.

Terrified animals may panic and attempt to escape, often running away from their homes or gardens. This increases the risk of them getting lost or being struck by vehicles. Elderly animals or those with heart conditions are particularly vulnerable to the stress, and may even suffer fatal heart attacks.

Impact on wildlife

Fireworks pose significant risks to wildlife, including birds, squirrels, small mammals, and even aquatic creatures like fish. The sudden loud noises and bright flashes can disorient and frighten these animals, leading to:

• Collisions: Animals may panic and collide with trees, walls, windows, or electrical cables.
• Increased road fatalities: Disoriented animals may run into roadways and be struck by vehicles

Environmental impact

Another negative consequence is that Fireworks contain toxic chemicals and other harmful substances. These residues can contaminate the environment and pose a serious threat to animals if ingested and have a devastating impact on the environment.

10 Simple Recommendation

OIPA has compiled a list of 10 simple recommendations (DOWNLOAD HERE_10 TIPS)) to help you keep your dog, cat, or other pet safe from fireworks during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

1.  Keep animals as far away as possible from celebrations or from places where fireworks are lighted up. Animals are much more sensitive than humans to loud noise, flashing lights and strong smells;
2. Don’t leave your animals alone! They might have uncontrolled reactions and get hurt. Stay closed to your pet, be calm and try to distract the animal from the noise;
3. Don’t leave your animals outside! If your pets are used to stay outdoors, keep them safely indoors to prevent the possibility of running away;
4. Keep your TV or radio loud, close windows and shutters in a way to soften the noise caused by fireworks’ explosion;
5. Leave your animals to take shelter wherever they prefer, even if normally it’s a forbidden place. Let them to feel protected in a comfortable place or location;
6. Be sure to keep your dog on a leash during walks. Don’t leave your dog free, even inside dog parks. The animal, driven by fear and anxiety, might run away getting lost or ending up hit by a car;
7. Ask a veterinary, specialized in animal behaviour, for suggestions and demand a supportive therapy that might alleviate your pet’s fear and axiety but only if strictly needed;
8. DON’T give sedatives to your animals as home remedy, certain drugs might have negative effects or enhance the phobic state;
9. Try to spend the New Year’s Eve with your pets in a place far from loud and unexpected noise. Safeguard their physical and psychological health;
10. Ask your Municipality to issue a warning to ban fireworks and raise awareness in your community explaining which danger and effects unnecessary noises caused on pets and wild animals.

L'articolo EVERY FIREWORK IS AN EXPLOSION OF FEAR FOR ANIMALS. KEEP THEM SAFE WITH 10 SIMPLE RECOMMENDATIONS proviene da OIPA.

OIPA volunteers have made a promise: DON’T LEAVE THEM ALONE! 

Every day our Blue Angels are besides the… “Alice’s Cats”, the stray cats of the project promoted by the Italian volunteers of OIPA in Milan. 

During the winter time homeless cats who live free on the territory need to take shelter and be protected from cold, wind, rain and snow. Unfortunately the weakest of them get sick easily and consequently they must be treated and monitored with great care.

We know well that for many animals in trouble volunteers are the only opportunity to survive, but with a small help each of us can also contribute to the project. 

A project that came to life from the love of a girl who tragically passed away, a girl able to infuse her true and pure love for cats and that still today lives and can be found in the caring actions of OIPA’s volunteers, because love does not disappear but does grow and spread.

Gunny, Mowgli, Mamy, Hinks, Ramen, Bianchino and all the other “Alice’s Cats” need your help.

They come out from the flowerbeds or from their small houses with their cute little faces when it rains or snows, waiting for food and some cuddles that the less shy do not refuse. 

Some others, like Ramen, Vasquez or Jonesy had to struggle with the misadventures that a homeless cat often has to face: hit by cars or got sick they have been rescued by the volunteers and with the immediate care, given thanks to the “Alice’s Cats” project, they had the opportunity to have a second life and been adopted by a family forever.

Our appeal aims to guarantee the welfare of this community of felines.

Supporting the project, OIPA’s volunteers will continue to look after and protect them, in the name of Alice and their love for animals!

You can make a donation, specifying “OIPA ITALY – ALICE’S CATS PROJECT”

L'articolo “ALICE’S CATS” UNDER THE RAIN AND BENEATH THE SNOW: OIPA’S VOLUNTEERS IN MILAN (ITALY) DO NOT LEAVE THEM ALONE. DO THE SAME, SUPPORT TO THE PROJECT! proviene da OIPA.

Though the “use” of bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions as performing animals was banned in 1998, elephants’ performance in circuses was still allowed.

The constant monitoring of our OIPA delegation in India as well as the actions of other organizations have shown mistreatment of circus animals kept in captivity without proper care.

In particular, the Great Golden Circus has been accused, among other reasons, not to provide proper veterinary care for two female elephants use as performers and the owner admitted not to have sufficient funds and resources to do it.

Petition 

L'articolo THANKS OIPA INDIA! GREAT GOLDEN CIRCUS LOSES RECOGNITION FOR USING ELEPHANTS AS PERFORMERS proviene da OIPA.

“We are happy that, after eight years of our campaign to ban all types of firecrackers, today’s vote in Parliament was a long-awaited historic moment for Croatia. We thank the Ministry of Internal Affairs and members of parliament who accepted the appeals of associations, the public, experts, and institutions to stop the terror of firecrackers,” said Luka Oman, president of AFC. He added that it was a pity that the logical proposal that the use of other noisy pyrotechnics is allowed only on New Year’s Eve and New Year was not accepted, which should certainly be corrected in the next amendments to the Act.

He explained that the current permission to use pyrotechnics on December 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th is illogical because nothing is celebrated on those days, and pyrotechnic explosions scare people and animals and often cause hand, arm, and eye injuries: “The goal is to reduce horrific injuries of children, as well as helping people who, instead of celebrating, have to spend the holidays locked in a house every year, under sedation, with the shutters down, fearing whether their terrified pets will survive the shooting or die of heart failure. ”

He reminds us that not so long ago all pyrotechnic devices of categories F2 and F3 were banned throughout the year: “Therefore, we consider these changes as the first steps towards greater safety of citizens and animals. We need to think about the well-being of pets, domestic and wild animals, the elderly, heart and other patients, people suffering from PTSD, as well as the protection of property and the reduction of air pollution.”

Air pollution harms people suffering from respiratory diseases associated with Covid-19, which, in addition to the already clear reasons for the ban, is an additional reason why many cities and states made decisions to ban the use of pyrotechnics in December. Practice from previous years shows that there can be a celebration with attractive silent pyrotechnics and light effects using drones, lasers, and reflectors.

AFC concludes that both the present and the future celebrations of New Year’s and others should be with the state-of-the-art technology that provides attractive solutions that are better for humans and animals. Given that the ban on firecrackers will come into force on January 2nd, 2021., they call on everyone to celebrate this New Year without the noise of firecrackers and other noisy pyrotechnics, and thus without the need for intervention services due to frightened, injured, and dead animals, injured children, and others. Celebrate the holidays without causing harm, fear, pollution, and stress.

L'articolo HYSTORICAL VICTORY! FIRECRACKERS BAN IN CROATIA WILL COME INTO FORCE ON JANUARY 2021 proviene da OIPA.

In São Paulo independent animal foster guardians are private individuals, not linked to any animal protection NGOs recognized by the city, who rescue abandoned or at risk cats and dogs and voluntarily offer them the necessary assistance (food, treatments, care, foster) to recover from bad living conditions and help them to finally find a responsible adoption. In other cases, once animals are back in a good state of health, foster guardians return them to the community in which they live after surgical sterilization and vaccination.

The work of the animal foster guardians is well considered and seen as mutually beneficial by the Municipality of San Paolo.

São Paulo City Hall recognizes the action of the engaged and altruist citizens that feel compassion and love for animals and defend a more etic society for this reason the municipality offers annually a quota of surgical sterilization procedures on its own Surgical Centers exclusively addressed to the independent guardians of the city registered in the program.

The Animal Foster Guardians support program offers the following services:

– Surgical sterilization for dogs and cats without quantity restriction;

– Anti-rabies vaccination and microchipping of animals neutered/spayed by the program

A project that should be taken as example by many other cities around the world where animals do not get the same treatment and instead are neglected and left all alone.

L'articolo SAO PAULO CITY IN BRAZIL SUPPORTS LOCAL ANIMAL FOSTER GUARDIANS proviene da OIPA.

Even with measures taken by the government to regulate the threats to pangolins, Cameroon is still one of the countries with the highest level of exploitation of this endangered species globally.

Cameroon hosts three of the four species of African pangolin: the Black-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla), the White-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) and the Giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea), but little to no information are available to help or facilitate their conservation efforts in the Country.

Our delegation in Cameroon has prepared a research proposal aimed to provide new data on the distribution, abundance and threats faced by these endangered pangolin species in Campo Ma’am National Park, located in the far South Western corner of the country.

Specifically, the work seeks to determine the geospatial distribution of pangolin, to evaluate the relative abundance and to investigate the human and human-related threats on the population of these three pangolin species in order to set a detailed plan of conservation management plan for these species in this biodiversity rich national park for review and possible implementation by the Cameroon Government and National Park authority.

Data collection will help in estimating encounter rate, possible population density and distribution patterns. Responses from community members will provide a reasonably reliable indication of pangolin prevalence, local ecological knowledge, offtake harvest levels and possible human-related threats.

All three species of pangolin have been listed in Appendix I of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and IUCN Red list as “Vulnerable” or “Threatened” (IUCN, 2017).

In Cameroon a Ministerial order was signed in 2017 including all the three species of pangolins under Class A in No. 0648/MINFOF with full protection putting a stop to hunting, capture, killing and trade of all these species.

Despite all the above regulations by the Government, there is still evidence of illegal trade and trafficking in Cameroon which is why this study aimed at providing scientific data to aid the conservation of the highly endangered species in the Campo Ma’an National Park.

Pangolins are highly endangered and are globally threatened due to their high demand for meat and scale internationally and nationally. In Africa, Cameroon in the Gulf of Guinea is one of the countries whereby illegal trading and trafficking is evidence. Despite measures and precautions taken by the government of Cameroon pangolins are still under threats. Very few researches have been carried out on pangolins in Cameroon and as a result, very little information is known about these species.

Consequently, an in depth study is important to come out with proposals to mitigate pangolins’ population decline.

To move forward OIPA Cameroon is looking for organizations that can fund the research

For more information, please send an email: cameroon@oipa.org

L'articolo PANGOLINS CONSERVATION IN CAMPO MA’AN NATIONAL PARK: PROJECT PROPOSAL OF OIPA CAMEROON proviene da OIPA.

These suggestions have been recommended to guarantee a better welfare and protection of the animals hosted in the shelter.

The meeting was attended as a representative of Animal Friends Croatia by lawyer Ivana Lunka, who is also the coordinator of the Animal Protection Network, which consists of more than 50 animal protection associations from Croatia.

Suggestions from Animal Friends Croatia:

– Revision of the employment procedure with the inclusion of a check on the manner of treatment of dogs in the shelter before employment and a clear and publicly available procedure on the manner and conditions of employment of new persons (through, for example, a job vacancy).

– Create a section “Our team” on their website and put the names, photos, and descriptions of the duties of all employees so that volunteers and visitors know whom they are communicating with during the visit to the shelter.

– Provide additional powers for the management of the shelter towards employees in terms of the possibility of issuing warnings, including warnings before dismissal, for cases of inappropriate treatment of animals.

– Short course for all employees who are to sign the declaration of appropriate treatment of dogs.

– Renewal of the procedure for answering staff on the phone with greater emphasis on explaining situations such as the reasons for the impossibility of taking a dog to the shelter and kindness in communication.

– Introduction of video surveillance of dog care with the possibility of recording so that dogs can be seen at any time.

– Adopt a document, in accordance with the law, on non-killing of animals in the shelter.

– Renew the procedure for checking foster care conditions with an immediate response to reports of poor conditions with foster carers.

– Revision of all protocols and presentation to the public of all renewed procedures on the operation of the shelter and the manner of dealing with animals.

– Establishment of an independent commission whose members are not employees of the shelter in Dumovec, which would perform on a monthly or semi-annual basis the assessment and evaluation of the attitude of each employee towards animals and regular control, ie renewal of the assessment.

– Keeping records of complaints about the work of each employee so that at any time it is possible to check for which person there are frequent and repeated allegations and which are an indicator of inappropriate treatment of animals. This channel for complaints can be on the website of the shelter in Dumovec, without notifications reaching only the shelter but also certain persons and services in the system of the City of Zagreb that will be in charge of control.

– Introduction of one day a year when the media, volunteers, and citizens will be invited to inspect the entire shelter and meet all employees and volunteers of the shelter in order to make suggestions for improving the work of the shelter or report irregularities during the year or during the inspection. Such a day should be organized as an event of the Open Shelter Inspection type and that on that day all shelter employees with whom visitors can get acquainted should be present in the shelter and that the procedures and work of the shelter should be presented.

– Increase the availability and presence of volunteers in the shelter.

L'articolo ANIMAL FRIENDS CROATIA MEETS THE MAJOR OF ZAGREB TO SUGGEST IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE SHELTER OF DUMOVEC AND OTHER SHELTERS IN THE COUNTRY proviene da OIPA.

Belvedere Zoo, constructed in 1963 and located in the center of the Tunisian capital has regularly faced disapproval for the extremely precarious and unhealthy conditions in which animals are forced to live. They are imprisoned in very small cages, neglected, dehydrated, malnourished in a structure where maintenance, hygiene, sanitary control and good care are not provided.

All these animals have been suffering terrible conditions for years. Some of them already died and the remaining are sick and depressed and they will soon lose their life if the authorities won’t take an urgent and decisive measure to solve the problem and find a proper solution to protect them.

Citizens, animal activities and associations have already stood up asking to stop this suffering but no answer has been given so far.

There are no surveillance or zookeepers inside the structure, so people feel free to misbehave and do whatever they want to the animals from feeding until mistreating them. As it happened in 2017 when a crocodile was found dead because some visitors decided to bit him to death with stones.

Through photos and videos shared on social media, the miserable health conditions of the animals were shown worldwide reinforcing the poor reputation of the zoo but, even if after the crocodile death the municipality started some maintenance works, the conditions in which animals are held are still pitiful and the structure continues to display lack of resources and personnel.

There are still starving and neglected animals: monkeys perishing in tiny cages, pigs of Vietnam undernourished and without water, a bear in agony unable to move, a lion abandoned in a pit, injured animals not treated, and many others.

OIPA International wants to report this terrible situation that violates all international conventions for the protection of animals and the environment, first the Five Freedom. We ask the municipality of Tunis and the government of Tunisia to cooperate and find together a solution in order the save the animals survived and relocate them in sanctuaries where they can benefit from adequate care and an environment that can meet their natural needs.

Animals deserve to live in the wild, enjoying their freedom and not suffering imprisoned for the sake of human beings.

We now ask your help to put pressure on the local government and give those animals a chance.

You can send a letter to the following:

• Tunis Municipality – webmaster@commune-tunis.gov.tn
• Ministry of Local Affaires and Environment – contact@minal.state.tn
• Belvedere Zoo – zootunis@municipalite-tunis.gov.tn
• Ministry of Tourism – boc@tourisme.gov.tn
• Embassy of your Country in Tunis – (example: ambitalia.tunisi@esteri.it)

Text:

“Please, I am aware of the extremely precarious and unhealthy living conditions that animals suffer at the Belvedere Zoo in Tunis. They are imprisoned in small cages, neglected, dehydrated, malnourished, sick and depressed in a structure where maintenance, hygiene, sanitary control and good care are not provided. This terrible situation violates all international conventions for the protection of animals and the environment. I ask the municipality of Tunis and the government of Tunisia to cooperate and find a solution in order the save the animals survived and relocate them in sanctuaries where they can benefit from adequate care and an environment that can meet their natural needs. Animals deserve to live in the wild, enjoying their freedom and not suffering imprisoned for the sake of human beings. Thanks”

L'articolo ANIMALS HELD IN A DREADFUL STATE AT BELVEDERE ZOO IN TUNIS proviene da OIPA.

Pluto has no voice to tell us the horror he must have known, but his slender, worn out body and torn to the point of disappearing, speaks of a life made of hunger, abandonment, suffering and loneliness.

After wandering for who knows how long, obsessively looking for food and a gentle touch, Pluto collapsed to the ground, so exhausted that he could no longer lift his head. A “waste” of what many still consider an “entertaining sport”. Pluto was reported in terrible conditions to the volunteers of OIPA Italy in Potenza who immediately rushed to his aid.

Visited by a vet, it was clear that the dog has suffered from hunger for a long time also given the very serious state of dehydration and malnutrition in which he was found. The results of the blood tests will assess the presence of any other pathologies.

Yet, despite the privations suffered, Pluto is proving to be a real fighter, a resilient dog with great inner strength and a considerable desire to live. After a few days of recovery, he was eager to walk, despite his weakness, and socialize with his fellows and be grateful to those humans who helped him without hesitation.

With a small donation you can help Pluto to rise from the ashes, just write “OIPA ITALY – Pluto”

L'articolo PLUTO AND THE WILL TO SURVIVE: SENTENCED TO DEATH, HE WAS DRAGGING WITH THE LAST STRENGHTS LEFT. RESCUED BY OIPA’S ITALY VOLUNTEERS, HE IS NOW SAFE proviene da OIPA.

The NGO letter, together with other separated letters of support from lion scientists, conservation bodies and the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) were submitted to the Department on 4^th December 2020.

This appeal is in line with an August 2018 Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Environmental Affairs Resolution, which stated, “The Department of Environmental Affairs should as a matter of urgency initiate a policy and legislative review of Captive Breeding of Lions for hunting and Lion bone trade with a view to putting an end to this practice.” This Resolution resulted from local and international opposition to the captive breeding of lion and associated activities and the negative impact that this was having on South Africa’s international reputation.

Whilst the necessary processes are deployed to close the industry, the NGOs have asked to the Minister an immediate moratorium on breeding of lion at captive breeding facilities and on issuing further permits for the establishment of new or additional facilities.

South Africa has more than 400 facilities with approximately 10,000 – 12,000 lions in captivity for commercial use in cub petting, lion walking, canned hunting and lion bone and derivatives trade.

The breeding of captive lions has no conservation value as lion scientists repeatedly pointed out and the release of captive bred lion into the wild has associated risks including concerns about genetics, viability, disease and increased potential to become ‘problem’ animals.

The trade in lion bones may be directly contributing to the growing demand for body parts and the poaching of lion and other big cats, threatening species across the globe that are already at risk.

And finally, the current Covid-19 pandemic with its credible link to wildlife utilisation has increased concerns about the zoonotic risks associated with the unregulated, inadequately monitored intensive breeding, slaughter and utilisation of lions.

Read the NGOs full Letter

Read the HSI press release

Photo credits: ©Pippa Hankinson, ©Roger and Pat de la Harpe, @BloodLions, ©Ian Michler

L'articolo OIPA INTERNATIONAL AND OTHER NGOS PRESS THE SOUTH AFRICA GOVERNMENT TO BAN CAPTIVE LION BREEDING INDUSTRY AND ITS ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES proviene da OIPA.