Fireworks are a hallmark of summer, but their impact on animals has led one Ontario community to reconsider them.
Out of the Ashes, an animal rescue in Sebringville, Perth County, is behind a petition calling for the replacement of fireworks with drones in the county.
The petition states that fireworks are “frightening and stressful for animals, including pets, livestock, and wildlife,” adding that their rescue group has encountered dead and injured animals in their care due to fireworks displays.
Swapping out fireworks for drones is becoming a popular, less disruptive alternative. These high-tech displays can still create animated images that light up the night sky, just minus the noise and pollution.
The petition highlights that using drones in place of pyrotechnics would benefit the health of pets and livestock, as well as individuals who are sensitive to fireworks.
Fireworks and animal safety
The petition shares a photo of a horse named Murphy who was startled and injured during a Canada Day 2025 fireworks display, later succumbing to his injuries.
As of noon Thursday, the campaign has gained nearly 1,500 signatures. And it’s not the only cause speaking out on fireworks affecting animal safety.
Replacement of fireworks with drone shows has already been implemented by one Toronto community.
On Canada Day, pet insurance provider Pets Plus Us organized a silent drone show for pet owners at Garrison Commons in Fort York, called Reclaim The Skies.
The pet-friendly show allowed the company to give back “summer skies to the pets who’ve been left out of the fun for far too long,” according to a Pets Plus Us press release.
For the first time, pet owners in Fort York could watch the sky light up with their animals, without the anxiety and fear pets often experience from the loud percussive blasts of pyrotechnics.
“Celebration should never come at the cost of our pets’ well-being,” said marketing director Jamie Maxfield. “The drone show is about more than just fireworks — it’s about reimagining tradition through empathy, safety and shared joy.”
Fireworks can be especially tough on pets, with both the Toronto Humane Society and the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society warning pet owners to keep their animals inside during displays.
Bans accused of targeting communities
Although Out of the Ashes is advocating for a ban on fireworks for animal rights purposes, other places in Ontario have considered and implemented bans for different reasons.
In 2022, the City of Brampton voted unanimously on a motion to ban fireworks. Currently, the use, sale, offer, display, purchase, distribution, possession and discharge of any fireworks or explosives are banned across the board in the 905 municipality.
There were significant factors contributing to the fireworks ban: that year alone, the city had received 1,491 calls related to fireworks, resulting in fines of almost $40,000.
For some, however, that ban came with concerning racial implications. Critics pointed out that it affected communities of colour who used fireworks to celebrate cultural events like Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, observed yearly among many of the region’s South Asian communities.
Similarly, firework displays in Orangeville are subject to similar restrictions. According to Orangeville’s fireworks bylaw, individuals are required to obtain a permit to display or sell fireworks, except on designated holidays such as Canada Day or Victoria Day.
However, in 2024, Orangeville’s council stated that it would not approve any permits for fireworks until it completes a bylaw review the following year, which is still to come.
Until then, fireworks on Diwali and any other cultural day are effectively banned, with similar community outrage over the matter.
Drone shows in Ontario
Outside of animal welfare concerns, other communities are also opting for drone shows as an alternative to fireworks displays.
For the first time, in both the town of LaSalle in Essex County, near Windsor, and Timmins, drone shows were presented as fireworks alternatives for Canada Day this year.
Science North, a museum in Sudbury, has opted for drone shows in both 2024 and 2025, while the City of Burlington has featured both fireworks and drone shows for Canada Day over the last two years.
It’s becoming a better and safer way to see the night sky light up around the province.
Rethinking fireworks might be a significant shift in the way we celebrate, but it is becoming clear that more communities are turning to these festive, colourful drone shows to observe major Canadian holidays.
