Bloody fireworks

[givemushypeasachance]

AIBU to think late October and early November has become one big 'firework season' and it's inconsiderate? There were scattered outbursts of fireworks last night, and lots going off in the local area tonight - no doubt there will be more on and off till Thursday when there will be loads, then more again on Friday and Saturday - I've seen adverts for formal displays both this weekend and next weekend. Why does it have to be spread out over a period of ten days? I've got two cats who are scared of the loud noises, and one is still outside somewhere hopefully cowering in a hedge rather than being scared into bolting for a road or getting lost. It's just fucking antisocial. I don't want to stop people having their fun, but even if it was just limited to the 5th and the closest weekend that would make it easier to prepare for and to try to keep pets inside once it gets dark - but it seems to get longer every year.

[Greydog]

I've just had the worst news from a pal of mine - her greyhound was spooked by a load of fireworks last night, and fell, breaking his proximal humerus (?SP) anyway he was in so much pain, that he's been put down. Family are beside themselves. I fucking hate fireworks

[theycallmemellojello]

I've got a cat in London, heard lots of fireworks last night - never occurred to me to be annoyed that other people are not organising their lives around my cat! If you keep a cat in a town then you accept that there are hazards - loud noises, cars and so on. YABU.

[limitedperiodonly]

That's kind of what I think theycallmemellojello. My cat isn't nervous. I sometimes wish he was because some people wish harm to cats and he'd go to them because he thinks everyone is his friend.

But if he was nervous about loud noises I'd hold him on my lap or give him a blanket to hide under in a dark, quiet room.

[Topseyt]

Whilst I do enjoy a good fireworks display, I think that they should be banned from sale to the general public.

They should be available to licensed displays only. They are just far too dangerous, especially when they fall into the hands of the local yobs, who have been known to chuck them under cars which are driving along, and to sometimes even set them off in broad daylight too.

I have never bought fireworks beyond a small packet of sparklers for the children. I never will. DH takes them to the local Round Table display, and I stay at home supervising my poor labrador, who tries to burrow through walls, doors and floors in his terror of them. I do also have a cocker spaniel who isn't bothered by them at all and would put her head out of the cat flap to watch.

[RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog]

So very sorry to hear about your friend's dog Greydog

They've started here again - around 6pm and have been going strong ever since with an especially explosive outburst as I post this......grrrr!

One of our dogs is particularly sensitive and will bark for an hour or more if spooked once they are shut into their supposedly safe haven of the utility room at about 11pm. They have cosy crates - doors open - and doggy duvets under the worktop, but despite having these 'dens' a single bang will set her off. As we prefer not to go back into the room once they are settled for the night (making a rod for your own back as my mum would have said!), she is left to bark in the hope that she'll settle back down.......luckily our neighbours are some distance away! We don't want to start letting them sleep upstairs on the second floor with us (anyway one cannot manage the stairs and is too heavy for me to lift) as we've never allowed them on the beds etc and I know DH wouldn't be able to resist!

Think I might try leaving a radio on in the room for them tonight.

[CMOTDibbler]

My mum who has dementia is terrified of the noise of fireworks. She can't understand what is going on and is crying atm. She can't express what she thinks is happening, and can't understand what dad is trying to say.

One or two nights, dad would put her to bed at 7 to hope she sleeps through it all, but for two weeks it would run the risk of her starting to get up at 2am which is a massive falls risk for her.

I like fireworks, I really do, but on Nov 5th and the nearest Fri/Sat only please.