It’s that time of year again - fireworks

[greybears]

I don’t have any pets, so I’m lucky that I don’t have to worry about this, but I still feel for animals, wildlife, people with disabilities, etc when they start. Some have just started going off in the street behind me, and I can hear next doors dog going crazy. I’m not against them, and I know it’s only once a year - well, not really, as people do them on Halloween now, all through November and at Christmas. There’s always people posting in Facebook groups asking for a heads up if there’s anything planned, but not everyone is on social media or even cares. I do think they could be silent though. It would still be nice and fun to look at, but it wouldn’t really cause any distress then.

I agree. My little boy (7) asked to go for a walk to look at the fireworks. He was fine at first, then some really loud ones started going off and he literally crouched down (into a little ball) and started crying. He was wearing ear defenders and had his hood up AND his hands over the top of both of them and could still hear them. Ridiculous

Silent ones would be so boring! I bought some fireworks for tonight and obviously avoided all the "low noise" ones. What a waste of time.

Considering its been a tradition for 400 odd years, I'm sure that the wildlife will pull through.

It's not just about the wildlife though. People with PTSD, people with disabilities, pets... Just because it's been going on for 400 years, doesn't mean that animals and people aren't affected.

I feel for animals. I'm already fed up of them, they've been going off for nearly a week where I am now. 1yo is terrified of them, 6yo is wired to the moon and we also have a young baby in the mix. I think the loud banging ones shouldn't be able to go off any later than maybe 8-9pm unless planned events. They're becoming quite antisocial now with how late people are setting them off.

They’ve gotten too powerful, too loud, it all goes on for too long. It’s actually quite pathetic that some loud noises and bright lights amuse adult humans. There are illegal fireworks now too.
It’s a tradition that can die out as far as I’m concerned.
If you think it’s ok that animals and wildlife are petrified for your amusement then to quote Ricky Gervais, you are a cunt.

I hate fireworks, I think they're dull and pointless.

But.

They've been around for decades. The melodrama over what they do to pets is so OTT. I get it, it's not pleasant for them but if we start banning something because our pets don't like them then fuck me where does that end?

Love fireworks but don’t think they should be sold to the public on account of safety. The pet argument annoys me, I’m permanently inconvenienced by dogs, cats and foxes- crapping everywhere- so I couldn’t care less about some annoying sounds in the year.

I just popped my head out the door and a huge rocket frightened the life out of me. I actually ducked!

Why do they have to be so fucking loud?

So you can hear them when they're hundreds of feet in the air

Not affected enough to warrant a ban though. Not sure what PTSD has to do with it and in your case, couldn't you have just not gone out to see them?

I honestly don’t understand the moaners of fireworks. It’s bonfire night and it will be bonfire night on the 5th of November for the rest of your life so what’s the point in moaning about them. The whole pet thing too I don’t get I’ve had no end of dogs over the years and not one of them has been scared of fireworks. I have 5 dogs and 3 are in the garden right now and not a peep from them.

I hope your little one is okay now 😢

They surprised me when they started, even though I was expecting it. Some of them are really loud now.

They are annoyingly loud here. I think whoever is setting them off is nearby.

What about farm and wild animals? The birds in the trees in my garden are terrified.

Have they told you that?

Every year I sign a petition for the noise of fireworks being lowered, or the use of them to only be at organised displays, nothing happens. My dog barks like crazy, he can stand the average bangs, but really gets upset at the loud bangs, I spent a lot of money on things to help him, nothing does and I refuse to sedate him every night.

I feel like cats and foxes are probably more of a danger to the birds than fireworks

I took my dog for a walk before it got dark and people were letting them off. We had to turn back & I had to carry her home. She clung to me shaking.

At least when we're in the house I can turn classic fm up for her.

It's not cunty to enjoy fireworks! Off to let them rip now.

Not sure how she heard them over the noise

You are just unfortunately for the rest of us,one of life’s selfish people,who doesn’t care about anyone but yourself and what you want.

My teen is out enjoying a local firework display and my dog is next to me shaking like a leaf so I have a foot in both camps.my poor dog seems worse this year. What is the best thing to get to help calm dogs? I think I’ll need it for next year. Dreading NYE with her now

I’m sure some animals are fine with it, but I can't say that for all. I’ve seen a few articles this week including one about an animal sanctuary that had to put down 3 of their horses after they got scared by fireworks. So, unfortunately not all animals / wildlife pull through 😞

It's not just bonfire night though. They've been going off here since Saturday