Just over two weeks ago, a convoy of protesters settled into Ottawa’s downtown core to demand the Canadian government cease mandates put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19. Since then protests have cropped up, in varying sizes, throughout several parts of Canada. As an accompaniment to their protests, organizers have encouraged participants to make as much noise as possible, and to disrupt traffic throughout many towns and cities all over the country.
Populated in part by long and short haul truckers, protesters have been excessively using air horns, truck horns, and other loud sound-producing devices to have their frustrations heard. As a result, countless companion animals have suffered serious, irreparable adverse reactions from the relentless honking and other loud noises.
For many of these beloved furry friends, physiological changes, including increased anxiety and fear-based behaviours, may be permanent; these sensitive animals now live in a heightened state of constant confusion and fear.
These pets are fearfully reacting to the truck horns in similar fashion to fireworks or smoke alarms. However, fireworks may only last for a few minutes to maybe a couple of hours at most, whereas the persistent honking has been ongoing for weeks, throughout the day and night.
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), hearing loss in humans can easily occur with exposure to sounds of 85 decibels. Most commercial truck air horns are in the 150 decibel range – similar to the noise generated by a jet engine. Comparatively, a car horn produces approximately 110 decibels. Many aftermarket horns can produce much louder sounds, too. Moreover, many trucks can have more than one horn. The NIH also strongly advises against the use of air horns in residential areas, as they are primarily intended to be used in open areas like highways.
When a pet is under duress, their body releases stress hormones including adrenaline and cortisol. All of this compounding stress can easily invoke a pet’s fight or flight response, causing them to act in wildly unpredictable ways. In an instinctive effort for survival, many pets have bolted through open doorways to run away from the threat, whereas others have begun to display potentially dangerous aggressive behaviours towards family, friends, and other pets. Additionally, many pets will experience chronic digestive problems that include diarrhea, stomach aches, and lack of appetite. In situations like this, fearful pets will often relieve themselves indoors as they are terrified of going outside.
And it’s not just dogs and cats that are being negatively affected by protest-related noises. Small pets, reptiles, birds, and other exotic pets often have more sensitive hearing than humans do, and can acutely hear noises from a great distance.
The persistent, harrowing noise has forced many pet owners to temporarily relocate outside of Ottawa’s downtown core. However, that isn’t a viable option for everyone. Reports are coming in across multiple social media platforms from people who are struggling with the negative changes in their pet’s behaviour, and are desperately seeking help.
This past weekend, a small group of protesters gathered in Meaford’s Market Square to ring bells and honk horns before moving on to a larger gathering outside Thornbury’s Town Hall. Organizers have stated that they intend to return next Saturday, as well.
If you are experiencing a disruption in your pet’s behaviour due to the ongoing protests, there are a few things you can do:
- Keep track of when protests are happening in your area and plan ahead.
- Consider taking your pet for a drive out of town, if possible.
- Create some white noise by playing the TV or radio.
- Close your drapes.
- Create a safe space in the most well-insulated room in your home.
- Take your pooch for an extra-long walk in the morning to help them wear off any excess energy.
- Consider using anxiety-reducing aids such as a weighted vest, compression garment, or a calming hemp oil.
Whether you are for, against, or neutral towards these protests, we can all agree that the pets affected by these demonstrations are unfortunate and undeserving victims. Our pets lack the capacity to understand what is happening to them, and can only react to the stimuli in their environment in real time. There is a ripple effect to all our actions, and it is time we consider the effect these actions are having on these poor innocent animals.
Brandon Forder, known as The Pet Expert, is vice-president of Canadian Pet Connection, an industry leader in healthy pet lifestyles. Brandon is certified in pet nutrition, and has more than twenty-five years’ experience specializing in pet health and behaviour. He has written hundreds of informative pet-related articles for newspapers, magazines, radio, and the popular Ask the Pet Expert Blog. Brandon is highly skilled in pet problem solving, and enjoys teaching others about smart and responsible pet ownership. To learn more, visit www.CanadianPetConnection.ca.
