For them, it's the hardest night of the year. A resident of Poznań organizes a New Year's Eve party for animals at a shelter

Mrs. Anna Szewczyk is organizing a New Year's Eve party for animals in Poznań. Privately, she owns three cats. Together with them, he will hide from fireworks explosions in a historic Prussian shelter. – There are only two rooms in which you can hear light knocking, you reported this to me a year ago, and besides, you can miss midnight here – says Mrs. Anna.

New Year's Eve underground has been organized for three years, but there has never been such interest as this year. – There will be five rooms occupied and there will be a record number of dogs – 15. There is one lady who comes every year, she is alone with three Yorkies – says Mrs. Anna.

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A relic of the past is located in the Grunwaldzki Social Park. Workshops for children and adults are organized there every day. – This shelter is such a unique place that cannot be found anywhere, on any map available on New Year's Eve. This is for people who would like to ensure that their dogs are not afraid of fireworks, says Mrs. Anna.

Despite annual appeals not to shoot on New Year's Eve, many people cannot imagine welcoming the year any other way. What pleases the human eye is unbearable for animals, including those in shelters, and causes enormous stress. – There have been cases where a panicked animal shattered itself – admits Jacek Kołata, director of the Homeless Animal Shelter in Kalisz.

– Animals have much better hearing than humans, so they hear much more of these gunshots – points out Jacek Sośnick, a veterinarian. – Usually, after New Year's Eve, we have about 8-10 dogs and irritated, nervous owners who are looking for their animals – says Ewa Mrugowska, director of the Shelter for Homeless Animals in Szczecin.

Hence the appeal of the director of the shelter in Kalisz. – First of all, we invite all residents and volunteers who would like to take part in calming down our animals during New Year's Eve – encourages Jacek Kołata.

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It is not possible to soundproof the cages for one night or take all the animals into the building. The presence of a human can relieve this stress.

The first volunteers have already responded to the appeal of the director of the shelter in Kalisz. – I will ask my mom and dad if I can spend time with them in the shelter, because when I look at them, I feel so sorry – says Amelia, a resident of Kalisz. When our dog was still alive, every year on New Year's Eve we took him to the basement or home to sit with us, because he was terribly afraid of firecrackers and all that, and we know that when he was with us, he was happy and calm – recalls Jakub Skowroński, a resident of Kalisz.

Instead of fireworks, several dozen kilograms of food for homeless animals – this is an idea for welcoming the New Year from politicians and local government officials from Szczecin, who encourage residents to follow their example.

– We would like to appeal to the residents of our city not to shoot on New Year's Eve, but to support the animal shelter. We do this every year – says Arkadiusz Marchewka, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure. – I appeal, please, I beg you. I don't know if you know how the animal shakes when these explosions happen, and we are happy, says Urszula Pańka, a councilor from Szczecin.

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– Think about why you want to spend money on the noise of crackers and fireworks, which will leave only garbage – points out Andrzej Radziwinowicz, a councilor from Szczecin.

There has been a loud discussion for years about giving up this New Year's Eve tradition, but nothing new has been heard yet. – There are three bills in the Sejm that talk about banning fireworks on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and I hope that when we meet here next year, these regulations will come into force – reminds Przemysław Słowik, a councilor from Szczecin.