Be Aware of the Dogs: Anti-Firework Campaign in Finland Aims to Help Dogs on New Year’s Eve

A Nordic pet care specialist Musti Group wants to raise awareness about how fireworks can scare dogs on New Year’s Eve by installing a 20-foot virtual dog at the official New Year’s event in the capital of Finland, Helsinki.

Musti, the dog, was created and animated with 3D technology, and it hears and reacts to the sounds of fireworks like real dogs all around the world.

The Be Aware of the Dogs campaign will also be visible in outdoor advertising around all of the biggest cities in Finland. The advertisements ask people to shoot off their fireworks as far away from residential buildings as possible if they plan to use them.

Source: BBC News/YouTube

“There are hundreds of thousands of dogs in Finland alone, but people who don’t have any pets don’t see what animals go through during New Year’s Eve,” Eveliina Rantahalvari, the Marketing Manager of Musti Group, says.

“Real pets go into hiding during the night, but with the virtual dog we can bring this important message out to the streets, where people are celebrating the new year with fireworks,” Rantahalvari continues.

The giant Musti screen will be at the New Year’s party in Helsinki and is connected to a decibel meter, which acts as the ears of the dog. Musti will hear and react to the sounds of fireworks like any real pet would.

“Panic attacks, tremors, and hiding are some of the common reactions. The symptoms often get worse as the dog gets older, and past traumas can haunt the dog so that it gets startled by even the faintest sounds,” Rantahalvari continues.

“We don’t want to be judgemental or spoil anyone’s evening, but we hope that people would be aware of this issue when choosing the place where they shoot off their fireworks. The further away from residential buildings the better. This way New Year’s Eve could be a fun experience for pets as well,” Rantahalvari concludes.

If you have a pet and are worried about keeping them calm and safe as fireworks go off, check out 6 Natural Ways to Keep Your Pet Calm During Fireworks.

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• New Year’s Eve Fireworks Sends More Dogs to Animal Shelter
• PETA Asks Oahu Residents to Give Up Fireworks

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