Dale A R, Walker J K, Farnworth M J, Morrissey S V, Waran N K
Department of Natural Sciences, Unitec, Auckland, New Zealand.
N Z Vet J. 2010 Dec;58(6):286-91. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2010.69403.
To establish reliable information regarding the behavioural responses of dogs and cats to fireworks in New Zealand; record interventions used by owners, and their perceived efficacies; and establish the prevalence of firework-related injury, and quantify owners' attitudes towards fireworks.
A questionnaire targeting dog and cat ownerswas distributed via the Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Animals Voice magazine and 25 veterinary clinics. The questionnaire covered demographics of animals, fear of fireworks, severity of the fear, and behaviours exhibited. Also included were treatments tried, source and perceived efficacy, prevalence of injury, and owners' attitudes towards the sale of fireworks for private use.
From a total of 8,966 questionnaires distributed, 1,007 valid questionnaires were returned, representing 3,527 animals. Of these 1,635 (46%) animals displayed a level of fear of fireworks recognisable to their owners. Owners of dogs identified a significantly higher fear response than owners of cats but the duration of these fear responses did not differ between species. Fear of fireworks frequently resulted in dogs exhibiting active fear behaviours, whereas cats were more likely to exhibit hiding and cowering behaviours. A significantly increased severity and duration of fear response over time in dogs and cats was associated with owners who comforted them when they displayed a fearful response. Only 141/890 (15.8%) of owners sought professional treatment from a veterinarian, animal behaviourist or animal trainer for their animals, with variable efficacy. Six percent (51/923) of animals had received physical injuries from fireworks. The majority (837/1,007; 83%) of respondents, regardless of whether they owned a fearful animal or not, supported a ban on the sale of fireworks for private use.
The results provide valuable information that is, as yet, unsubstantiated in New Zealand, although potential biases exist due to the non-random selection of respondents. Differences between dogs and cats were likely due to differing responses to fear-provoking stimuli between the species. Owner-reported increase in fearful response over time for comforted animals may indicate a negative impact on the longer-term psychological welfare of their animal.
The greater the awareness of effective treatment plans for animals that suffer from a fear of fireworks, the greater the possibility that this fear can be reduced. Wider dissemination of effective owner behaviour and treatment programmes for firework fears is needed to improve levels of professional treatment for dogs and cats.
获取有关新西兰犬猫对烟花反应的可靠信息；记录主人采取的干预措施及其感知到的效果；确定烟花相关伤害的发生率，并量化主人对烟花的态度。
通过奥克兰防止虐待动物协会（SPCA）的《动物之声》杂志和25家兽医诊所，向犬猫主人发放调查问卷。问卷涵盖动物的人口统计学信息、对烟花的恐惧、恐惧的严重程度以及表现出的行为。还包括尝试过的治疗方法、来源和感知到的效果、伤害发生率以及主人对私人销售烟花的态度。
在总共发放的8966份问卷中，回收了1007份有效问卷，代表3527只动物。其中1635只（46%）动物表现出主人可识别的对烟花的恐惧程度。犬主识别出犬的恐惧反应明显高于猫主，但这些恐惧反应持续时间在不同物种间无差异。对烟花的恐惧常导致犬表现出主动恐惧行为，而猫更可能表现出躲藏和畏缩行为。犬猫恐惧反应随时间的严重程度和持续时间显著增加与在动物表现出恐惧反应时给予安慰的主人有关。只有141/890（15.8%）主人为其动物寻求兽医、动物行为学家或动物训练师的专业治疗，效果不一。6%（51/923）的动物曾因烟花受到身体伤害。大多数（837/1007；83%）受访者，无论是否拥有恐惧烟花的动物，都支持禁止私人销售烟花。
尽管由于受访者的非随机选择存在潜在偏差，但这些结果提供了新西兰尚未证实的有价值信息。犬猫之间的差异可能是由于物种对引发恐惧刺激的反应不同。主人报告称，给予安慰的动物恐惧反应随时间增加可能表明对其动物长期心理福利有负面影响。
对患有烟花恐惧症动物的有效治疗方案认识越高，减少这种恐惧的可能性就越大。需要更广泛传播针对烟花恐惧的有效主人行为和治疗方案，以提高犬猫的专业治疗水平。
