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.

That more wildlife are killed by dogs and cats than fireworks. You can't evidence this statement

Are you not aware that fireworks scare birds, foxes, horses. Rabbits that can go into stasis.

My cats don't shit anywhere apart from a litter tray BTW. They are indoor cats.

My dog was never bothered by fireworks until recently. Now she is elderly and she is petrified. She goes up the stairs and hides under the bed and she never ever goes upstairs ordinarily. It has really made me think twice about fireworks to be honest

Some of them are not just small pops theyre incredibly loud bangs that go on for a long time, luckily haven't had any near us for a couple of years, but we had a year where an air bnb let off them, we live in a rural area with farm animals all around, just selfish.

They also go off for weeks in some areas on the run up to Nov 5th

Do you watch the news much OP? Are you well travelled? Do you have many conversations with people.

i don’t have to experience something myself to imagine how it might impact others. I have cat who gets a little nervous but is generally okay. But I hear dogs in the neighborhood barking all night - some of the bangs are very very loud. Last year a dog in my street had a heart attack and sadly died.

so while I have not experienced it myself I do understand why pet owners hate this time of year

It can really stress some animals. When I lived at home our family dog would go crazy when fireworks went off, chewed through a wooden door and destroyed the sofa when we dared to go out one bonfire night. My mum had to get sedatives from the vet every year after that, and even that didn't work sometimes, she'd end up almost hyperventilating through the bangs, foaming at the mouth and trying to escape. It was a nightmare. None of my dogs I've had since moving out have ever been bothered at all by fireworks. I think the first dog, who was just the calmest boy ever, must have rubbed off on the others, as one was a particularly highly strung, yappy, bark at everything, hyperactive dog, but never flinched by the sound of fireworks. Our current dog is deaf, so also doesn't bother himself by them. Years ago it was to be expected on bonfire night and new years, but nowadays fireworks seem to go on randomly for weeks before/after bonfire night, and that's stressful for owners who can't predict and manage/medicate their animals as it's unpredictable. You can't sedate your dog/horse for an entire month just incase. NYE it's to be expected, so easier to deal with. I don't think they should be banned as people love them and it's a joyful experience for alot of people, but i think there should be tighter rules around when and how fireworks can be lit, so it can be more manageable for those with noise reactive animals.

Whta a very smug person you are OP. Do you not read the news? have you not seen, year after year, the amount of animals injured. And not just animals, people have been killed by fireworks, they've been used as weapons. My DH used to be a civil war re-enactor, and it order to use a muskett he had to have a black powder licence. Now any knobhead can just rock up and buy things that boast "This is a 1.3G powerhouse that fires its 16 shots in aggressive volleys. Instead of a slow plod, you get twin-bursts of heavy thuds that echo around the neighbourhood. Each report is accompanied by a vibrant peony in red, green, yellow, or purple, ensuring visual impact matches the sonic boom." So, as you can see people are not making a fuss about nothing. And apart from animals, what about those who suffer from PTSD?

Clearly the fireworks weren't that close to your house. Sounded like they were being left off right outside mine, very loud.

Might not be extremely loud in the house through double glazing but animals have sensitive hearing.

Also you think it's safe to take your dog out for a walk at 4pm on 30th December and someone lets a few fireworks off, then you have a terrified dog that doesn't want to leave the house even to wee in the garden for weeks.

I’d say it’s pretty obvious TBH. There are millions of cats and dogs in the UK. They hunt and chase all the time, not on a few days each year. Apart from wildlife, several hundred dogs have been shot by farmers over the last few years for attacking livestock.

As for harm to people…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2553157exo#:~:text=There%20were%2032%2C568%20recorded%20offences,method%20for%20counting%20dog%20attacks.

Google suggests there are about 2,000 fireworks injuries every year. Hospital treatment alone for dog attacks is approaching 10,000 every year. And that’s without unreported cases or the millions of terrified children and adults who are harassed by dogs.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-67916152#:~:text=According%20to%20NHS%20Digital%2C%20there%20has%20been,to%20own%20one%20without%20an%20exemption%20certificate

I’m sure you’re a very responsible cat owner. But that’s not the point.

I am yes

The fireworks here started going off about 8 in the evening, and a few were going off after 2.00am still. They were loud!

It's never a few minutes a few times a year. In November they were going off for weeks.

My dog is a rescue. He was a hunting dog. He was badly abused by his previous owner and he is petrified of fireworks. He will shake for hours, try to run around the house to find a 'quiet' place. He won't go outside to wee. I feel so sorry for him.

I do think they should be banned for personal use for a variety of reasons.

Mmm, and if the RSPB estimate of 55 million birds a year killed by pet cats is even close to accurate, we'd have to see a huge and visible surge in bird deaths around firework times for the number to even get close. We'd notice.

But it's not just about bird deaths. It's about dogs who can't cope with the noise. Foxes. Cats. Rabbits. A family member of mine has rabbits and they were so terrified a few years ago they stopped eating and went into stasis

For clarification I have no problem with fireworks but I do think they should be silent and that the sale of them should be more controlled.

There were at least a week of them every night in the run up to Nov 5th where I am and every year someone around two streets away from my mums house let's them off for new year - for an hour - starting at midnight

Where's the evidence that there are millions of terrified adults and children who are harassed by dogs?

Fireworks are completely unnecessary - a local dog died last night when she bolted at the noise and ran into a main rd.
Farmers locally are clear about the distress Fireworks (and bloody helium balloons) cause to animals.

Yes, and the point is that pets are bad for many other animals not just birds. Cats obviously don't only kill birds, but other wildlife too. The post I replied to mentioned the substantial problem with dogs attacking livestock, and of course humans too.

So the point to take is, be careful what you wish for. If you advocate for limits on fireworks that will make them less enjoyable for many, ie silent fireworks, that principle can and will be applied to other things some people like even though they do harm to others. Like pets.

And even if you don't let your cats out, their existence causes environmental damage (which always impacts on other animals) due to the food they need to eat. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

They cause no more environmental harm by their food than someone who eats meat twice a day. Some cat owners don't feed their cats meat BTW

Yeah I would advocate for silent fireworks. For the many reasons that have been posted on this thread so far

I don't have dogs and not every dog owner is irresponsible either

I don't see any principle being applied to other pets if we get rid of loud noisy fireworks that can go on for weeks at a time

Humans existence cause much more environmental damage than my indoor cats.

Yes, I'm sure you don't see it. But presumably you've noticed that other people disagree, and feel as strongly as you do? You live in a society, and if you try and come for people's fireworks, you don't get to decide that's where the line will be drawn. The harm you do to have the things you like isn't special or protected. Your selfishness doesn't have a special status.

And I know you don't have a dog, but millions of people do.

Wouldn’t you be upset if something was terrifying your child and you were powerless to help them?
People feel the same about their beloved animals.

Let’s not forget all the wild animals who aren’t even indoors.

I'm really not sure why you are referring to me as selfish just because I'm a pet owner. All my cats are rescues and they are indoor and don't do anyone any harm. By the way. Im vegan and have been for decades - I cause less harm to the environment than people tucking into their eggs and bacon of a morning

I'm also not "coming" for anyone's fireworks - I'm expressing an opinion on a forum

My cats are terrified of fireworks. They go on for weeks where I live.

Foxes. Birds who get disoriented and fly into windows and die.

Lots of dogs have died over the last few weeks for that reason. Spooked by fireworks and killed.

Because pet ownership is inherently selfish. Like fireworks, unnecessary meat consumption etc. You aren't doing it for the wider good, you're doing it cos you want some cats and you think that's more important than the environmental impact of the pet food industry.

And if you advocate for only silent fireworks being sold, given that other people want loud ones, presumably that means you want restrictions?