Be a pet, take care of animals on Diwali

Lucknow: Along with celebrations, Diwali demands some extra effort from animal lovers for you never know how your fireworks could cost a stray its life.
"Children in my colony lit a mini-bomb and threw it on a stray last Diwali and the dog kept moaning in pain the entire night," said social worker Shalini Srivastava. "My 4-year-old Labrador won't get out of the closet for the entire night on Diwali.One of us has to stay with it till the time crackers are audible," said singer Shreya Awasthi.As a lot of animals lose their eyesight, get hurt and fall prey to depression due to the noise of crackers that's unbearable for them, a little care and time is all they need. "The number of pet owners coming to my clinic increases during Diwali. I even get calls on Diwali night about unusual behaviour of pets and strays due to the noise of crackers," said doctor Agrawal who owns a pet clinic in Aashiana.
ILL EFFECTS ON PETS: Animals, particularly dogs and cats, have a sensitive hearing. Loud and sudden sounds of firecrackers affect their nervous system. Birds abandon their nests out of fear of 'rockets' that fall on trees. They lose their way home, die of starvation or land in hostile territory.