Fireworks discharged in the Helderberg basin during New Year’s celebrations left volunteers of the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) Helderberg scrambling to rescue dogs distressed by the celebratory displays.
Julia Evans, AWS Helderberg general manager, said the discharge of fireworks caused chaos for animals in the area. She took to Facebook on Wednesday 1 January to express her frustration after the organisation was called to rescue a dog trapped between two walls in Lwandle.
“To the fireworks lovers, we’re struggling to get this dog out,” Evans wrote in a post accompanied by a photo of the trapped animal. “Perhaps you’d like to come and assist?”
AWS Helderberg received the call around 14:15 and found the golden-coated dog unable to free itself.
After a lengthy struggle they managed to rescue the animal, who was left unharmed.
In addition to this incident, Evans said the organisation responded to multiple call-outs for stray dogs. Eleven dogs were taken in, but only five have been reunited with their owners to date.
“This is all a direct result of the fireworks,” the animal-rights activist reiterated.
Fireworks were set off in Mountainside, Gordon’s Bay and Somerset West as well as at Strand Beach.
According to Wayne Dyason, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement, Strand Beach was the main hotspot where fireworks were discharged. “Officers worked a 24-hour shift and attended to all firework-related complaints received,” he said.
However, no record of the total number of complaints is available.
Dyason reiterated that the City had designated no firework zones for New Year’s celebrations. “No fireworks are permitted to be discharged within the boundaries of the City without a valid permit, and permits can only be obtained from the police,” he explained, adding that Law Enforcement officers had issued fines and confiscated fireworks from premises selling them illegally before and during New Year’s celebrations.
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City’s Fire and Rescue Services, confirmed no fire-related incidents linked to fireworks were reported in the Helderberg over the New Year’s period.
Evans said while residents generally respected animals, this year’s events were an exception.
“When I was younger I also loved fireworks, but then I developed common sense and saw what they were doing to the animals,” she said.
To prevent similar incidents in the future, Evans believes stricter measures are needed. “We need to ban the sale of fireworks,” she said.
