Ban on sale of fireworks: animal lovers are relieved.
New Year's Eve used to be particularly stressful.
Kirchötting / Kirchasch
- For the second time in a row, the turn of the year is much quieter. The federal government has again banned the sale of rockets for the start of 2022 in order to protect hospitals from potential further patients. In Bavaria, however, igniting residual stocks is only taboo in “public places with a particularly high audience”. While the sales ban again means high financial losses for dealers and manufacturers, the relief is all the greater for pet owners. New Year's Eve is usually associated with great stress and fear for you and your animal roommates, as reported by two animal welfare associations from the district.
Many people love the colorful, often impressively produced fireworks effects.
Vroni and Lukas Becker (both 27) are not among them.
The couple lives in Kirchötting (municipality of Wörth) and runs the Schneider Hof there, which is organized as an association.
The sanctuary, founded in 2014 with a horse, is now home to over 100 animals.
The majority is housed in a spacious enclosure.
Horses, cattle, pigs, sheep and goats live together in the open air all year round.
You can only find covered shelter in three half-open stables.
"It was always terrible," says Lukas Becker when he remembers the nights at the turn of the year with fireworks before the pandemic.
"New Year's Eve was always the worst day of the year, and we were very happy when it was over."
Regardless of the animal species, all four-legged friends were very tense and nervous that evening. The 27-year-old's three dogs were always hiding somewhere in the house. Of course, the larger animals at the Schneider Hof don't have this option. “They were always running wildly up and down when the shooting started”, Lukas Becker looks back. The couple hasn't done anything on New Year's Eve for a long time. The two were always with their animals from shortly before midnight to calm them down.
The Beckers rate the turn of 2020/21 as positive, when the indirect firecrackers ban first came into force.
Even in the Wörth area, some people would have ignited rockets anyway, reports Lukas Becker and at the same time emphasizes the understanding reluctance of his neighbors.
"Overall, however, it was much quieter and not nearly as stressful for us and the animals."
The Erding district animal welfare association, which has existed for 31 years and whose animal shelter has been in Kirchasch (Bockhorn municipality) since 2013, is also aware of the disadvantages of fireworks.
Around 240 animals currently live there - mainly cats, 70 pigeons and fish, four dogs and a few guinea pigs, mice or other small wild animals.
Chairwoman Alexandra Wendelken sees it as an advantage that the animal shelter in Kirchasch is a bit remote and the animals don't notice the fireworks that much.
The 48-year-old knows about her own cats: “Animals are really stressed out on New Year's Eve and are really scared.
As soon as the first rocket goes off, my cats are under the sofa or bed. "
On January 1, the animal welfare association also often provided support in the search for escaped dogs, she says.
Because of his own pets, Wendelken was always at home on the last New Year's Eve.
Otherwise only a few precautions are taken in the animal shelter on December 31st.
The dogs are not in the outdoor enclosure, but come into their huts (more tips in the box).
The chairwoman of the association also rates the past New Year's Eve positively.
"It was much quieter and the animals were much more relaxed." For this year's turn of the year, Wendelken hopes that it will be a little quieter than last year because of any remaining private stocks that may have been used up.
The 48-year-old can also imagine that particularly large fireworks fans may have shopped in other countries or online.
Wendelken is in favor of a permanent ban on firecrackers.
“That would be great for the environment and all animals.” Lukas Becker has exactly the same opinion.
The 27-year-old is also hoping for an even quieter New Year's Eve in 2021/22 and praises the decision in favor of this year's sales ban: "You did well, our politicians."
MARKUS OSTERMAIER
