Holi is an Indian festival celebrated nationwide in March. It is a festival of colors and joy. But, A festival can be made even more special for everyone from kids to animals, if we show a little vigilance while having a fun time.
This Holi, Desiwoof advises that you color your heart with compassion while remaining mindful of animals. Here are some ideas for having an animal-friendly holiday. Please assist us in raising as much awareness as possible.

• Team Desiwoof suggests you to keep your animal companions indoors and the festivities at a safe distance away from stray animals. Children should be taught not to throw powder or water balloons at animals. They may be unaware that their actions frighten and harm animals. We can take the responsibility to educate our younger ones and raise awareness that ensures a safe and happy Holi.

• You can kindly request the housing associations to remind tenants to keep their animal companions inside and never throw color powder or water at stray animals. And most importantly, we request you to be a little vigilant. Keep an eye on your four-legged friends; if an animal consumes or has any color on its body, seek medical attention from a veterinarian as soon as possible. And in order to remove the powder from an animal’s hair, use a cruelty-free, gentle animal-friendly shampoo. Never use products containing kerosene, alcohol, or hair oil, as they are all highly toxic for your four-legged buddies.
• Holi is not only a festival of colors but also a festival of sweets and flavors. These lip-smacking dishes may be delightful for you. But, ingredients such as cream, chocolate, and raisins are toxic to many animals including cats and dogs. So, we strongly advise you to keep the Holi delicacies away from animals. It can not only make them sick but can also lead to death in severe cases.

• The powders used during the festival are made with synthetic colors that contain toxic metals or dyes that can be extremely dangerous and even fatal to animals if consumed. The dry powder, which is generally considered safe for use on pets, contains lead, which acts as an accumulative poison. Inhaling it can cause nasal irritation and a respiratory infection. Animals also lick their bodies, which allows them to ingest the colors, which is frequently the primary source of poisoning. Keep an eye out for the following warning signs: Poisoning symptoms include excessive salivation, vomiting, loose motions, and behavioral changes such as aggression or stupor. If you notice any of these symptoms, take your pet to the vet right away. Carrying the suspected source of poisoning (color) would assist the vet in taking appropriate corrective action.

• Besides the adverse physical effects these colors can cause the animals, there might be a few psychological impacts too. Dogs and cats can become anxious and depressed as they cannot figure out what is happening around them. This is why you might have seen stray dogs running away. The eve of Holi is a good time for us people to celebrate and rejoice. However, one can also give a little consideration to the health of innocent pets and stray animals.

Every year many cases of animal cruelty are witnessed around the time of festivals. People often mistreat animals as a source of fun and entertainment. We firmly request you to report such cases at the earliest. We, humans, are counter-intuitive, and we forget that animals’ consent is important when they are approached. It’s not like animals want to be a part of our celebrations. Animal interaction and ethical concerns should be taught to children by their parents and the community at large. Children are more open to kindness and empathy. A flexible mindset and a few extra steps from your side can make this Holi a delight for not only you but your animal buddies as well! We can come forward and do our part to make sure every festival becomes animal-friendly.

If you have any more questions or queries related to this blog, you can type your views in the comment section. Team Desiwoof would love to help you out!
We wish you a joyous and safe Holi!