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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

…to ask why you still buy fireworks

114 replies

xolotl · 13/11/2024 18:29

https://mailchi.mp/58291132e1c5/red-panda-update-from-edinburgh-zoo-5799234

From the email:

”Very sadly, she choked on her vomit on bonfire night and our vets believe this was probably a reaction to fireworks. Roxie had access to her den but the frightening noises seem to have been too much for her. We are also concerned that fireworks cause stress to other animals in the zoo.

Fireworks can cause fear and distress for pets, livestock and animals in zoos, so it is essential that the UK government tightens restrictions. We support calls from animal welfare charities to ban the sale of fireworks to the public, with only light displays being permitted at organised events.”

OP posts:
MidnightMeltdown · 13/11/2024 21:34

stayathomer · 13/11/2024 19:31

But there’s animals everywhere so why are people saying just don’t do them next to the zoo?!?!?

Because people who buy them are usually thick, as well as selfish unfortunately.

Blowyourbeans · 13/11/2024 21:37

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

PenGold · 13/11/2024 21:38

I don’t understand the narrow focus on fireworks. There’s so much anger and aggression being expressed and yet statistics suggest that a vast majority of posters eat animals and dairy produce.

VanillaPlanifolia · 13/11/2024 21:54

PenGold · 13/11/2024 21:38

I don’t understand the narrow focus on fireworks. There’s so much anger and aggression being expressed and yet statistics suggest that a vast majority of posters eat animals and dairy produce.

I don't eat red pandas

PenGold · 13/11/2024 21:58

VanillaPlanifolia · 13/11/2024 21:54

I don't eat red pandas

Do you eat animals and fish? Kill mosquitoes and ants?

Do you care about their fear and pain? Or just the cute pandas?

PietariKontio · 13/11/2024 22:03

The argument appears to go: “animals, e.g. some dogs, are scared of fireworks which aren’t something I think are necessary or enjoyable, therefore people who use them are both selfish and cruel”.

Which makes sense except that anyone who currently owns a dog almost certainly lives in a community where fireworks have been used reaidentially prior to them buying the diog. Therefore that owner knew they’d be bringing an animal into an area where there would be a potential yet significant fear stimulus regularly through the year.

So have they put their selfish desire to own a dog above the wellbeing of the dog or should anyone who enjoys fireworks have to stop? Whose enjoyment is more important, how do we judge who takes priority?

Additionally, there are thousands of people who have a dog phobia, do dog owners take this in to account when deciding to bring another fear factor into these people’s lives, which will impact them everyday, not just in and around cultural dates.
And no, just cos your pooch is well behaved and doesn’t give the first shit about approaching another human, doesn’t mean someone won’t be terrified when they pass.

Thing is humans are selfish, you are, I am, and society limits that selfishness up to a point where people can still have some individual freedoms and negatives effects are minimised. I say this as someone who loves dogs and cats, and has a small interest in fireworks, but I support other people’s rights, to a point, to do things that annoy/inconvenience me, cos I sure as hell will, accidentally, do the some to them at some point, in the pursuit of my enjoyment

soupfiend · 13/11/2024 22:05

We think our cat was hit by a car this week. Im not calling for a ban

This is incredibly sad but as others have said better than me, the real tragedy is why on earth pandas are in a Scottish zoo.

A better campaign is for protection of exotic animals wild spaces, fighting against poaching, deforestation, using animals for medication etc etc

theeyeofdoe · 13/11/2024 22:13

Are you mad
(A) there is absolutely no way that the vets could link an emotional response to vomiting to a non-native species dying.
(B) it could well have had a congenital abnormality
(C) If it was in the wild it would have come into contact with other noises or predators which might eat them never mindscare them.

I'm fifty and have never had a house animal which was scared by fireworks. Cats and dogs were fine. I honestly think if the owners get worried the animals do too.Chill.

soupfiend · 13/11/2024 23:39

theeyeofdoe · 13/11/2024 22:13

Are you mad
(A) there is absolutely no way that the vets could link an emotional response to vomiting to a non-native species dying.
(B) it could well have had a congenital abnormality
(C) If it was in the wild it would have come into contact with other noises or predators which might eat them never mindscare them.

I'm fifty and have never had a house animal which was scared by fireworks. Cats and dogs were fine. I honestly think if the owners get worried the animals do too.Chill.

Excellent points particularly the last one

We have had pets over the years and they might look up from time to time but simply out of interest

I think its because I dont spend all night going 'ITS OK, ITS OK, ITS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT'

Which unfortunately is what I see a lot of owners doing. Their anxiety is being transmitted to the animal.

Mademetoxic · 13/11/2024 23:49

Grooch · 13/11/2024 19:15

Because it’s really fun. I’m not in favour of regulating all risk out of existence, because it also means you end up in a lifeless, humourless, fun-less society. Fireworks are a few nights a year and the harm to animals overall is actually minimal.

Incidentally, motorways are about a million times worse for wildlife (and actually they’re pretty terrible for humans and the planet), but no one is proposing to get rid of them. Banning fireworks is just fiddling while Rome burns.

Why are you so dense?
You cannot compare fireworks to a motorway which is a necessity in life.

Fireworks have no point in society. What is the point of them exactly?

Mademetoxic · 13/11/2024 23:51

ZeldaFighter · 13/11/2024 20:09

I love them and always have. Letting a box of fireworks off in my garden takes me back to the happy times of my childhood. We always have friends round to share the fun with us.

Our rodents were unbothered.

Selfish human behaviour once again. I fear for our future children if the parents are always this selfish. Me me me attitude.

username358 · 13/11/2024 23:52

Don't put animals in zoos.

Playingintheshadow · 14/11/2024 00:01

theeyeofdoe · 13/11/2024 22:13

Are you mad
(A) there is absolutely no way that the vets could link an emotional response to vomiting to a non-native species dying.
(B) it could well have had a congenital abnormality
(C) If it was in the wild it would have come into contact with other noises or predators which might eat them never mindscare them.

I'm fifty and have never had a house animal which was scared by fireworks. Cats and dogs were fine. I honestly think if the owners get worried the animals do too.Chill.

That's nonsense, and I'm older than you and I've had cats my entire life. My current three cats are a bit unsettled and uneasy, and I am certainly not "scared by" or "worried about" the fireworks, but all of my cats are rescues and I don't know what history they have! We close windows, curtains etc and drown the sound out with TV etc so they aren't too bad.

My oldest cat, who's 7, is absolutely petrified every time the window cleaner comes! She runs to hide and the only place she feels in any way safe is in front of the hot press door, because she's not near any windows! I had two sisters 30 years ago and they were also terrified of the window cleaner! They used to hide behind the sofa and then crawl out at half height when they finally decided to chance it!

A friend of mine has two small rescue dogs. One of them was cruelly treated in a past life. They shiver and shake in fear when fireworks go off.

I'd never be willing to bring that level of fear to my cats or any of my neighours' pets. It's so fucking antisocial!

Playingintheshadow · 14/11/2024 00:02

soupfiend · 13/11/2024 23:39

Excellent points particularly the last one

We have had pets over the years and they might look up from time to time but simply out of interest

I think its because I dont spend all night going 'ITS OK, ITS OK, ITS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT'

Which unfortunately is what I see a lot of owners doing. Their anxiety is being transmitted to the animal.

That's a load of absolute nonsense. You don't know much about animals. See my post above.

XLchihuahua · 14/11/2024 00:46

Playingintheshadow · 14/11/2024 00:02

That's a load of absolute nonsense. You don't know much about animals. See my post above.

Agreed. Once you've seen an animal unable to be calmed down no matter what you do or say, you cannot see fireworks in the same way ever again. A quiet animal may still be distressed.

XLchihuahua · 14/11/2024 00:49

BillPurchase · 13/11/2024 20:18

And in the craze of the past 20 years of dog cages in the home.

Absolutely

NoisyDenimShaker · 14/11/2024 00:58

I think zoos are better than animals starving to death in the wild or being torn apart by predators, plus zoos are educational and often carry out research and conservation.

I think the risk to animals from fireworks is minimal, especially compared to all the other things we put them through. It's unnatural for dogs to live indoors. It's cruel to ride horses. We have pets for OUR pleasure and we keep them captive. What's the difference between a zoo animal and a pet? Both are living in captivity in unnatural conditions and there to serve selfish humans.

Once you start thinking this way, there's almost nothing that seems acceptable except going back to living like cavepeople.

QueenCamilla · 14/11/2024 01:23

I hate the stuff. Pandas or no pandas. I get no pleasure from the fucking whistles, bangs and smoke. Some people must lead very dull lives indeed if a few burning sparks are the epitomy of entertainment for them.
I thought the rough dimwits would have dropped their hobby in adulthood (it were always the rough dimwits setting off fireworks when I was at school ) alas... They're still rough dimwits and still haven't found anything better to do.
Every year around this time, I'm awaiting a misaligned firework (accompanied by drunken whooping) come shooting through my bay window.

That's one thing I miss about living somewhere more upmarket - many times less idiots with personal fireworks.
I can just about abide the public displays.

RIP baby panda.

sarsaparillatree · 14/11/2024 01:37

Red Pandas come from China. The Chinese invented fireworks. How come Red Pandas didn't become extinct hundreds of years ago?

Bumbleebeetree · 14/11/2024 05:46

BlueMoanday · 13/11/2024 20:12

Because I love them. They give me joy in a shitty, shitty world.
I don't care if a neurotic dog is scared.

So your 5 minutes of nostalgia is more important than wildlife being absolutely terrified? How depressing.

VanillaPlanifolia · 14/11/2024 06:34

PenGold · 13/11/2024 21:58

Do you eat animals and fish? Kill mosquitoes and ants?

Do you care about their fear and pain? Or just the cute pandas?

Do fireworks scare ants?

Hateam · 14/11/2024 06:43

Given the rate that dogs kill children, I think we'd be better off banning dogs.

Ytcsghisn · 14/11/2024 06:45

OP, are you still at it. You’re obsessed. Get help.

Jifmicroliquid · 14/11/2024 06:49

Because stupid people are entertained by bangs and pretty colours.
It’s against the law to drop litter or fly tip, yet its perfectly acceptable to litter the land with your firework debris.

Selfish people believe that their right to ‘fun’ is more important than the emotional and physical welfare of domesticated animals and wildlife. Theres no point arguing with them either, because they are so blinkered and convinced they are right.

Organised and licensed displays are the way forward. That way, people who enjoy fireworks can still go and watch them, but it limits the total madness that bonfire night has become.