... to be irritated by pet owners going on about fireworks given the impact that people having pets has on society and the environment?

[Kallyderon]

It's just about time for the annual whingefest about people setting off fireworks to start and it's boring. If you own a domestic animal then your animal impacts on people around you all year round in terms of waste, meat production, safety, sanitation and noise. It also impacts on wildlife.

Given that, and given that no one is obliged to own another living creature, it's a bit much to expect all the other humans around you to refrain from doing something they enjoy because it might make your dog unhappy.

Tbh there are sound environmental reasons for opposition to fireworks but they don't do even half as much damage to wild creatures and their habitats as the average cat or dog, so that's a moot point anyway and obviously not of great concern to you otherwise you wouldn't own a dog.

So AIBU to say give it a rest?

Well, I sort of agree - even as a dog owner - because I don’t think my decision to own a dog should mean that my neighbours should be stopped from enjoying fireworks.

But I can see that there are other valid reasons to stop selling them.

As a parent of two toddlers I loath fireworks with a passion as I am guaranteed at least a week of shit sleep due to my lovely neighbours setting them off at night. My dogs couldn't give two farts on a pancake about them thankfully.

You are being very unreasonable. I honestly don’t think most pets have a big impact at all - especially on waste, safety, sanitation or noise! You’re being very dramatic. However I also don’t care about fireworks so 🤷‍♀️

And how anyone can describe themselves as a ‘non animal lover’ sends a shiver down my spine.

This. ^

Plus the buying extra fireworks to piss off people with dogs is quite something special. The idea that you’d find such glee in upsetting an innocent living creature (for instance my poor dog who had to be put to sleep last October because fireworks going off every evening made him have an MI) is beyond comprehension.

Fireworks should be kept to organised displays only.

Sorry but this is a centuries old tradition and we’re not going to stop just because your dog doesn’t like it!

What an idiotic response.

I think local, organised displays are fine, but those running it should have to apply for a license to be allowed to do it. This means that everyone will know exactly where fireworks are going to be let off, and at exactly what time. I also think it might be worth confining it to bonfire night, or the nearest Saturday. And New Year. So that would be three days a year. I feel that would help the environment, pets, and also people's safety.

I used to like them when bonfire night was just a night. Now it's 2 months of torture as kids continually set off bangers. They were thrown at a group of joggers in our local park last week. Bad behaviour has killed the event for me. I don't even like the big displays anymore. As for linking them with animal owners. Bit tenuous!

Fireworks are fine. Organised displays are fine - because you know when they happen and can plan accordingly. Private displays are a real pain because you don't know when they'll happen and you could easily be out or walking your dog or similar when they happen.

Animals can be spooked by fireworks and bolt - if they run into a road or over a train line, it will kill them. Horses also become severely distressed by fireworks and can run themselves to death through stress.

My husband was out walking our dog last year when someone had a private display nearby - the dog was absolutely terrified and wouldn't stop shaking and crying the rest of the evening if we'd known there was a display we'd not have taken him out (it was the beginning of October so nowhere even close to Bonfire night).

Umm, I see both sides really.

Lots of posters saying it should be just 2 nights but what about other religious events like Diwali?

I've no experience of them going off constantly (not heard 1 yet) or being used antisocially (kids more concerned about knives here).

Yes of course they are dangerous in the wrong hands as dogs are. My kids are far more at risk from irresponsible dog owners. My friend is incredibly nervous around dogs due to a nasty biting incident as a child, she doesn't like dogs off lead at the park but recognises that it's her fear.

Re the elderly or disabled doesn't it depend what conditions they have. I grew up attending a neighbourly display as the child of the family was in a wheelchair & plenty of the elderly are at Diwali events I've been too. I don't want to take my kids to organised displays now as they are far far too crowded (think more than 30 k people) & congested & actually I find the big displays a bit loud. I have a car & grew up with dogs & not all pets are bothered by fireworks.

There should be a law that says dogs should be walked twice a day and not be cooped up in a tiny back garden. Where they bark whenever they hear the fuckn wind blowing..Their owners should think twice before they buy a dog and then decide they won’t walk them. Dogs barking constantly is worse than sleeping beside a snoring human

I agree, but what's that to do with the price of fish?

Also, I posted a link above, happy to report, about the health hazards of the pollution from fireworks, and about the environmental impact of their production.

This seems to be overlooked, but it's huge.

repost

The pet thing doesn't bother me. If someone wants a pet that's up to them.

Regardless, I don't think the general public should be allowed to buy and set off fireworks. They should be reserved for proper displays where there are appropriate checks and safety features in place.

It seems weirdly sociopathic to be totally unmoved by causing unnecessary fear to another living thing.

All these posts and this sums it up best.

Here dog, you shit which is an essential function of living, and your useless human didn't pick it up so tough luck on being scared out of your skin because of these fireworks. Ha!

Even more weird to think that because you're fed up of stepping in dog shit (who isn't) you'll buy more fireworks this year that will cause distress to groups of people and animals that had nothing at all to do with the dog shit being there in the first place.

What about all the people who are scared of dogs though? Isn't is a very common fear?

It's a bit hypocritical to complain about dogs causing damage to the wildlife when fireworks not only cause distress through the noise they make, but also leave behind plastic and other inedible mess. Dog shit doesn't kill animals that swallow it, rubbish does.

Yabu

Fireworks should be restricted to organised displays for a whole variety of reasons.

My dog also does not impact wildlife, or others, as I control her.

Clearly a vegan lol

Fireworks are explosives at the end of the day and shouldn't be for sale to the public, where I m from, people steal cats and tie them to fireworks!

I have 3 horses and they go mad if they see fireworks, if one escaped and caused a car accident would that be fair? Just because you want to see pretty colours in the sky?!
I think your a very selfish person if you don't mind endangering lives of people not just animals just be cause you 'enjoy' fireworks

What about all the people who are scared of dogs though? Isn't is a very common fear?

They are and dogs can be dangerous, as can fireworks.

But I do agree with pps saying, why does that mean you'd actually, deliberately, seek to cause dogs to be anxious or distressed?

I don't think we should have as many dogs as there are. Puppy farmers, churning out overbred puppies to sell is both cruel and bad for the environment. Population growth of humans is a huge issue. Why can't we discuss the unnatural population growth of dogs which WE as a species have created?

Coming back to HUMAN population growth, despite the the several assertions that "nobody has mentioned having children", which appear on every thread involving CC, it has actually been brought up time and time again. Rightly so btw. It's another thing we need to consider.

But, just because we aren't perfect and can't do everything right re CC, it doesn't mean we should do nothing at all. If I had 5 children, (which I don't btw), it doesn't mean I should give up and do nothing about CC for fear of being called a hypocrite. Just like if I buy one bottle of water one day, it doesn't mean I shouldn't use my keep cup for coffee another day.

Also, in some parts of the world, a very large family, including children obviously, makes less impact than a single CHILDLESS westerner. So, does that not indicate that population isn't the only factor? It is our lifestyle. And PET ownership, (notice I'm not saying animal ownership, as guide dogs etc obviously aren't pets), is a lifestyle choice. An easily avoided lifestyle choice. And it makes an impact.

I would 100% choose for another family to be able to have a child over me buying dogs, just like I'd choose the child over flying abroad on holiday or driving everywhere. Yes, human population growth has to stop and it is stopping. We are already at below replacement levels in the UK, which some people actually argue is NOT a good thing for the country.

Most people who have dogs, also have children anyway, so it's a moot point and pet ownership is another one of those things that only humans do, (animals don't have pets), and which is negatively impacting the planet. So the more we encourage this, the more likely it is that the babies born today will choose to do the same when they're adults. It's a complicated issue and conversation cannot be shut down by saying "but do you have children? Yes? You can't raise an issue about CC then". That is not how this is going to work.

I’d say children were far worse for the environment. People who don’t like animals are weird and to be avoided

But I do agree with pps saying, why does that mean you'd actually, deliberately, seek to cause dogs to be anxious or distressed?

I agree (& also with many other parts of your post) and wouldn't ever want that.

I wonder how many dog owners who are asking firework users (?) to consider their dogs or ptsd sufferers consider others who may be fearful of dogs?

I do think it's wrong to lump the firework garden display that involves sparklers & catherine wheels with rockets through your letterbox in the same way I wouldn't judge all dog owners by those that let theirs run loose in dog prohibited areas of the park.

I’d say children were far worse for the environment

Well in this country we actually need more children & if not then more immigration.

People who don’t like animals are weird and to be avoided

I love animals but don't agree with what some breeders do & owners perpetuate in order to make dogs cute or desirable & would never own a pedigree again. Does that make me a hater?

Is this serious?
Some people have way too much time on their hands if they have time to dwell on crap like this

Some enjoy pets,
some enjoy fireworks,
Some enjoy both
Some hate both
Some like one and not the other
Easy

I’d say children were far worse for the environment

I actually think children in parts of Africa are less impactful on the planet than a dog in the west. Mainly due to the dog's meat consumption. It is about lifestyle not just population.

But you cannot, regardless of whether you think puppies are fur babies, compare a human child with a pet dog, which is something a human has decided to buy for their own amusement.

And even putting that to one side, if someone has a child, that doesn't mean they then should do nothing positive for the planet, like avoiding pet ownership. I would say the opposite. If you have children, you should do more to mitigate your impact. That means considering your choices a bit more carefully. It's not ok to say "oh well I have children so what's a dog in comparison"? A lot of dog owners have or have had children, I would think. And they should especially be considering if they need another one in future or if their energies and compulsion to care for another living creature and to have companionship could be directed elsewhere. Work with wildlife; animals which are not pets are part of the environment and still cute without being owned. Work with other humans who need help. God knows we're going to need all the help we ca get in the future, especially if people who think they're being clever say "I'm not having babies, I'm having dogs instead for the sake of the planet". If we have too few human babies, just as if we have too many, then that is actually going to potentially be a problem for us as a country in the future.

NRTFT but YANBU in terms of noise from pets. I have to put up with my Terrace sounding like a kennel 24/7, I’m sure you can cope with fireworks for a few days in the year