To not get the problem with fireworks and pets

[SoldTheMovieRights]

There's fireworks going off next door but one and I can hear them, but just some small popping noises really and barely audible when we had the telly on earlier.

It's never been loud enough to wake or disturb DC.

However, local Facebook group for my village is full of posts complaining about fireworks and how they are traumatising pets. AIBU to not get it? If they are too quiet to disturb people why are they so bad for dogs (who would all be inside in the evening anyway?)?

Lots of people wanting them banned because of their dogs but I just don't get it, at worst it's a few mins of noise, a few nights a year, is it really that awful?

I have zero skin in the game as could never be bothered to do fireworks myself, but if my neighbours fancy it, crack on, I'll enjoy the show.

Ours go on for over half an hour and our dog is terrified, cowers. Whines. Barks awful for him but also wakes our kids and annoys our neighbours

https://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/news/calls-end-noisy-fireworks-following-death-baby-red-panda

I know it's not a pet, but the stress of fireworks can be really damaging to animals that don't understand what the noise is.

They're not small popping noises if you're in a built up area. More like the Battle of the Somme. I'm quite not in the "ban them" camp yet but they absolutely terrify every pet we've had over my lifetime.

Try living where I do. It has not been bad tonight but at Diwali which then ran into bonfire night it went on for weeks at a time even at 4am they were still going off like mortar bombs. If you've never had your beloved pet so terrified for days on end that you are seriously worried they will have a heart attack then I guess you won't understand. It is awful to see.

Animals hearing is more sensitive than humans so it’s louder/more piercing

It’s like a war zone where I am… it’s been going on for an hour and it’s fucking awful. OP - you obviously don’t have pets otherwise you’d understand. My cats are all cowering under the bed utterly terrified.

Dogs have got better hearing than you and don’t understand what they are.

they are also a problem for veterans.

they could be made silent or replaced with drones like in the far east. Otherwise they should be banned.

I think you can only really understand if you have pets afraid of fireworks. There is nothing you can do to calm them down. We were lucky, our dog managed to overcame it, I am aware this is extremely rare.

I don’t understand. Are you saying that it’s not true that animals and birds are distressed and frightened by fireworks? Is it that you think that the people who are messaging are not telling the truth?

Your post suggests that dogs and other animals aren’t really frightened or can be reasoned out of their fear by rational discussion

If you own a pet you have a duty of care to train them to tolerate fireworks/sudden loud noises. It's negligent not to, for their sake.

However rescue pets may not be able to be trained. That's the tough part.

Well you're lucky if you can barely hear them.
Been going off here since about 11pm and very very loud. Luckily our kitten doesn't seem fazed and is sound asleep.
For other animals it is a nightmare and causes huge stress and even death on occasions. Maybe give a thought to them.

We've had full of explosions for the last 2 hours.
Luckily my dogs aren't bothered that much. One slightly panics when the firework season first starts, by this time of year they're mostly over it.

Unfortunately animals can't rationalise the sudden explosions above their head, or the deep boom they feel, so they panic.
Many, many will be in such panic they have heart attacks, run into fences, or otherwise damage themselves.
For what, our entertainment? Ban them.

Been loud here, both dogs barked their heads off for a few minutes then stopped.

Animals have a different frequency range of hearing. It’s super imposed. They also don’t understand they are fireworks for fun so it’s probs terrifying for them they think they’re being attacked

My cat is usually not fazed at all. She slept right through last new year and bonfire night. She had a little jump when there were a couple of loud bangs earlier but she is fine now.

I guess if you don't believe what people are saying we're not going to convince you.

I've sedated my dog, she's wearing a thunder vest and a snood over her ears. I had the tv on loud and sang for half an hour. I still thought she might have a heart attack.

I honestly HATE people who use the noisy ones.

It's also been like a war zone here. I think this is the worst I've ever heard it. I think fireworks should be completely banned. It breaks my heart the poor animals suffering from the noise.

YABU because you've never had skin in the game. When you've seen and are powerless to do anything to help your much loved animal cowering and shaking with fear, for not just hours but weeks at a time (because people don't stick to one or two nights a year, but lots of nights around those and some daytimes too), you would understand it better.

When they're too scared to go out for a bedtime wee, not just for one night but for the next few weeks...

I thanked God tonight that my current dog isn't bothered. With my last dog I would have made a blanket fort under the desk and kept her company in there while she white knuckled it through. it's heartbreaking.

Our dog has been wrapped in a blanket all evening shaking like a leaf. It’s really not ideal. They have been setting them off all evening where we are

They'd be more frequent maybe, but surely you don't get louder fireworks in built up areas? So if it's the same distance away how would it be louder? Or do you mean that people on every side of you will be letting them off?

I did used to live city centre and still never experienced any volume that would disturb me at all.

Take on board that animals have different hearing but even so, I remember loads of home displays as a child but it seems only in the last decade or so that there's been an outcry about pets, which is what I don't get. Have the fireworks got louder?

6 hours tonight.

It's ludicrous you don't understand animals have far more sensitive hearing than us and that fireworks can really affect them.

Fireworks will never be successfully banned

If u don’t get it no point in explaining. Do some reading. Educate urself to the welfare of animals.