Holi, the festival of colors, brings joy and vibrancy into our lives. While we immerse ourselves in the festivities, it’s crucial to ensure our furry friends (whether pets of Stray Buddies) enjoy the celebration as well, without any harm. Here’s how you can make this Holi enjoyable and safe for your pets and community animals. Understanding Animal Safety During Holi The idea of fun differs significantly between our pets and community animals and us, especially when it comes to festivals like Holi. Loud noises, crowded spaces, and the colors can be more harmful than festive for them.

• Chemical Hazards: The synthetic colors used during Holi contain chemicals that are unhealthy for us and can also cause fur loss, skin irritation, and even lead to serious health issues of animals, which may require veterinary care. Even animal-friendly or herbal colors can be tough to wash off and potentially dangerous.
• Respiratory and Eye Safety: The fine powders can cause respiratory distress, especially in breeds with breathing difficulties. Additionally, these colors can lead to severe eye irritation or damage.
• Ingestion Risks: Dogs and cats often lick themselves clean, ingesting these harmful chemicals in the process, which can lead to poisoning.
• Emotional Reactions: Animals may get scared and traumatised when they are suddenly hit by a water balloon or colours. They may go into hiding or run away and sometimes get lost. They may even react aggressively, exposing the instigator and others to an avoidable risk of being attacked.

Be Compassionate to Animals this Holi For our pets and free living animals festivals can turn out to be a stressful time. Recognizing the risks, it’s essential to celebrate without exposing animals to harm. Here are some compassionate celebration tips to ensure that all creatures enjoy the spirit of Holi.

• Use pet-friendly colors: Natural colours are made from flowers and plants, which are less likely to be harmful.
• Color-Free Celebrations: Find alternatives to playing Holi with colours. Embrace the spirit of the festival with special animal-friendly activities instead. See below for some tips.
• Provide Safe Spaces for Pets: Provide a quiet, comfortable space for your pets, away from the loud music and crowds to retreat to if they feel overwhelmed.
• Protect Community Animals: Be an advocate for the free-living animals in your area. If you see an animal being mistreated with colors, step in and provide them with a safe haven.
• Avoid feeding sweets: Sweets are made from sugar and dry fruits, which are harmful to animals.
• Protect their eyes: Pets’ eyes are delicate, and Holi colors may irritate or even blind them.
• Remove colors with mild shampoos: Gently wash your pets with a mild pet shampoo. Do NOT use kerosene or spirits.
• Educate children: Educate children about the harmful effects of using artificial colors on animals.
• Create awareness: Collaborate with your RWA and society groups to promote responsible and pet-friendly celebrations.

Responsible Holi Celebrations Modern Holi celebrations often involve the use of water, harmful colors, and single use plastics. Here are some tips for an ecologically responsible Holi celebration.

• Avoid plastics and balloons: Water balloons and plastic bags are a safety threat and pollute the environment.
• Celebrate with flowers: Use scented flowers instead of the usual colors to celebrate Holi this year.
• Conserve water: Conserving water is a social responsibility. Use limited water for playing with colors.
• Use natural colors: Avoid using synthetic colors. These may contain harmful chemicals.

Fun Alternatives for a Joyful Holi Who says Holi can’t be fun without the traditional colors? Here are some creative ways to include your pets and community animals in the festivities safely.

• Fashionable Attire: Dress your pets in vibrant bandanas or bow-ties to add a splash of color without any risks.
• Water Play: If your pet enjoys water, set up a small, pet-safe water play area where they can splash around and have fun.
• Special Treats: Instead of sharing sweets that could harm your pet or community animal, prepare some animal-friendly treats so they can enjoy a festive feast safely.

Holi for a Caring Community As we celebrate the festival of colours, let’s extend our compassion to all beings around us. By choosing to celebrate Holi in an animal-friendly manner, we not only ensure the safety and happiness of animals but also foster a more inclusive and caring community. So let this Holi be a celebration of love, joy, and compassion for all creatures, great and small.