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Original poster

Who takes their dogs to a firework display.

43 replies

CaKeLady62 · 28/09/2025 22:57

As in title.
I went to an event to celebrate 200 years of the railway this evening.

Whilst I was there me and dp noticed how many people had brought their dogs.

Who does that. It was a huge organised event ending with a firework display.

We noticed a couple behind us with two dogs, one on a lead at their feet, the other in one of the couples arms.

The event was noisy with loud music.

My partner and I spoke to each other about how uncomfortable and stressed the dogs were.

As soon as the fireworks started the dogs were off, one breaking free from it's harness.

Who the he'll takes their dogs to an event knowing that it will be crowded, noisy and fireworks to boot.

My aibu is that there's posts all over local Facebook with pictures of the dogs, only one is missing. There's so many comments about how distressing it is for the owners to have lost a dog. I've commented and told it like it was.

How totally irresponsible of the owners. My sympathy is with the dogs.

Are people really that stupid.

I'm so sad that this has happened. Those as poor, poor dogs.

OP posts:
Autumn1990 · 28/09/2025 23:01

If there’s the slightest chance the fireworks would upset a dog the owners shouldn’t take it. There are some dogs, like our lab, who will literally chill out at your feet whilst the world blows up around them. He’s in the minority though and he’s not been taken to a fireworks display.

TheFlis · 28/09/2025 23:02

I take my dog to the village fireworks display every year. He is not at all bothered by fireworks as long as he is with us and can see what is causing the noise, he actually lies down next to us and calmly watches. If we left him at home (or were even at home with him) and he heard loads of banging outside that he didn’t know the cause of, he would get very stressed

ByPeachPeer · 28/09/2025 23:02

I agree and probably wouldn't take my dog but also you see so much on sm etc these days about how all animals are terrified of fireworks and they should be banned etc etc and my dog literally gives no shits. Isn't at all scared of loud noises and would probably love an event like that. It's me that hates it. I take your point if really the dogs were terrified and ran off etc but before I read that I came to say trust that owners know their dogs. Not all dogs are scared.

Battical · 28/09/2025 23:02

Dogs are famously interested in railway heritage, so it’s really to be expected.

OverlyFragrant · 28/09/2025 23:03

I'd really hope their dog was a gun dog, deaf or otherwise bombproof.
Sadly, as you saw today, few dogs meet that criteria.

Bourneyesterday · 28/09/2025 23:05

I have never taken my dog to a fireworks display but he doesn't react to fireworks at all so I would take him if I wanted to despite judgemental people policing the behaviour of others.

GoldBalonz · 28/09/2025 23:06

Who takes their dogs to a firework display

People who know their dogs won't be bothered. And a few morons, judging by your op.

Ours comes to watch the fireworks with us every year.

ninjahamster · 28/09/2025 23:07

My dog ADORES fireworks. She sits in the window if she hears any going off. I used to take her out for walks at night on bonfire night just so she could enjoy them! So I would happily take her to a display. I think we actually did when she was younger.

IPM · 28/09/2025 23:09

I'd 100% take one of mine as he'd love it, but not my other dog as she'd be terrified.

ChocolateBoxCottage · 28/09/2025 23:12

Everyone seems to take their dogs everywhere now. The place that shocked me most was Chinese new year soho.

Yes your dog might live Chinese culture but I couldn't see my feet it was so packed. It's hard to believe that not one single dog got trod on. You literally could not get down the road due to crowds. People get shocked by the prams I'm sure but not the tiny Maltese dog no one could even see.

JS25 · 28/09/2025 23:14

I used to take my old dog to displays like this he actually loved sitting watching them. We started though with watching from afar so he could hear them and gradually moved closer to the action.

My current dog I wouldn’t take along as he’s not good in crowds and is much better off lead than onlead. He doesn’t bother with fireworks though and will watch them if he sees them and looks for them if he hears them

I do agree though that not all dogs are on with them and the owners should have been more thoughtful and either left them at home or left before the fireworks or watched from the car

Endofyear · 28/09/2025 23:19

Not all dogs hate fireworks. I've seen families with dogs at our local displays and the dogs were fine!

youalright · 28/09/2025 23:19

I never understand why people take dogs to half the places they take them its selfish and all about their own needs instead of the dogs

MrsBungle · 28/09/2025 23:23

I don’t take my dog to fireworks although if I did she’d be fine. She couldn’t give a shit when they to off. We hear farmers guns and bird scarers often when out, she doesn’t care.

Original poster
CaKeLady62 · 28/09/2025 23:24

Oh gosh I didn't expect to hear from so many people who's dogs really don't mind fireworks and are non reactive.

These dogs however we're clearly getting stressed with the loud music even before the fireworks started.

I'm upset and angry that one of these dogs is still missing and the fact that if their owners had noticed their distress and taken them away then both dogs would now probably be safe at home.

OP posts:
PortSalutPlease · 28/09/2025 23:27

Our old dog LOVED fireworks. We lived near a huge display and as soon as they started going off she’d be by the door waiting to be taken out to have a look. She was also bloody massive so there was no risk she’d get trampled in a crowd.

Our current dog is terrified of them, and about the size of a handbag, so we avoid them like the plague.

OneFootintheHedgehog · 28/09/2025 23:30

My dog is cool with fireworks but I still wouldn’t take her to a display just in case.

ThreeWordUsername · 28/09/2025 23:32

Surely it depends on the dog. I've known plenty who find fireworks very stressful but others (often gundog breeds) who are completely relaxed around them. Owners should take their own dogs' needs into account.

petergriffinsdeadfrog · 28/09/2025 23:41

Mainly idiots who don’t take into account how reactive their dogs could be. But also people with dogs who are able to manage it having made a judgement call knowing their dog well.
Where I live they build a ridiculously huge bonfire (fireman and police have to attend) and have constant loud fireworks going. It’s at the end of a very long street that leads to my house. I can see the flames from second floor windows. My cats (indoor) just about tolerate that but my immediate next door neighbours use fireworks in their back garden that sound like an absolute war zone. Cats are terrified. They don’t even plant the rockets properly so they fly over fences. Last year I was doing sparklers with my daughter and 4 year old niece in the back garden when NDNs started the fireworks. Both girls autistic, both screaming and running from the ridiculous amount of noise, the little one screaming “Oh no Mummy! It’s an emergency!” I got them inside before the inevitable misplaced rockets shot over. It terrifies our outdoor pets too so I spend most of the night going out reassuring them and prepare beforehand so that they have extra hay to hide in etc.
I don’t understand why people need the extreme noise to enjoy fireworks. Quiet ones can be just as nice to look at 😡

OneFootintheHedgehog · 29/09/2025 00:02

petergriffinsdeadfrog · 28/09/2025 23:41

Mainly idiots who don’t take into account how reactive their dogs could be. But also people with dogs who are able to manage it having made a judgement call knowing their dog well.
Where I live they build a ridiculously huge bonfire (fireman and police have to attend) and have constant loud fireworks going. It’s at the end of a very long street that leads to my house. I can see the flames from second floor windows. My cats (indoor) just about tolerate that but my immediate next door neighbours use fireworks in their back garden that sound like an absolute war zone. Cats are terrified. They don’t even plant the rockets properly so they fly over fences. Last year I was doing sparklers with my daughter and 4 year old niece in the back garden when NDNs started the fireworks. Both girls autistic, both screaming and running from the ridiculous amount of noise, the little one screaming “Oh no Mummy! It’s an emergency!” I got them inside before the inevitable misplaced rockets shot over. It terrifies our outdoor pets too so I spend most of the night going out reassuring them and prepare beforehand so that they have extra hay to hide in etc.
I don’t understand why people need the extreme noise to enjoy fireworks. Quiet ones can be just as nice to look at 😡

Yes, I hate the really loud ones that sound like a bomb’s gone off. There really is no need for them. As well as spooking animals and wildlife (potentially to the point of death in some sad cases) they can also terrify people with dementia, PTSD and learning difficulties, amongst others.

CinnamonJellyBeans · 29/09/2025 00:46

Mine's another that doesn't mind them.

However, I don't agree with bringing dogs to places where there are crowds. Dogs don't enjoy it. They're not even walking and you never know if they could take a bite out of a stranger who grabs them or gets in their face, until it happens.

Pryceosh1987 · 29/09/2025 00:51

I understand you view and the view of the couple with the dogs. To some dogs are just pets, but to others dogs are personal friends. To each his own.

gottakeeponmoving · 29/09/2025 01:00

My dog isn't the least bit bothered by fireworks.She watches them just like she watches telly. She isn't spooked at all. I haven't taken her to a display - mainly because of me. Fireworks = dark/cold weather and crowds and I'd rather watch from the warmth of home (I suspect she does too). But she is perfectly happy to out to the garden to do her business.

Anononony · 29/09/2025 01:34

My old dog used to love watching them, he would be delayed though, it was quite funny to see his head shoot up a second after the shhhhhtttttt sound of them going up, rather sad actually after he went deaf because he was never aware of them after that so didn't see them (he wasn't one for being manipulated like to look up at the sky, and if I tried to point he just thought I had a treat, he wasn't the sharpest)

Sad to hear that people brought dogs who wouldn't like them though, although maybe they're fine with garden fireworks but the louder/constant bangs of a display might have been different which the owners didn't expect. I never did take ours to a display as our local ones banned dogs

Doingtheboxerbeat · 29/09/2025 01:51

Battical · 28/09/2025 23:02

Dogs are famously interested in railway heritage, so it’s really to be expected.

🤣🤣🤣 The only reasonable response.