Pet owners have been advised to keep their animals indoors over the Halloween period to reduce the distress fireworks cause among pets.
As thousands of children around the country prepare to dress up in Halloween costumes tonight, Marie O'Byrne of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said its Drumcondra clinic in Dublin has been "inundated" this month with complaints about pets being "terrified" by the sound of firework explosions.
Her clinic has also seen a significant increase in the number of stray dogs reported during that period, many of whom have run away from home due to stress.
"Fireworks affect different animals in different ways. But a dog or cat's hearing is a lot more sensitive than ours," Ms O'Byrne said. "You could try a little bit of cotton wool in their ears, or putting the radio on - that can help a bit - a lot of vets do prescribe a sedative so the animal can sleep through the worst."
"But the best advice really is to just make sure your animal is indoors," she added.
Meanwhile, gardaí have warned parents to ensure they know the whereabouts of their children at all times this evening, amid fears that illegal fireworks may lead to serious injuries.
A spokeswoman for the Garda press office said many of the illegally imported fireworks have not gone through any safety tests.
Anyone found to be in possession of fireworks risks having them confiscated and faces the possibility of criminal proceedings, she added.
"Vigilance cannot be left to the gardaí alone. Parents and adults in general should still ensure that children are aware of the dangers," she said.