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.

Dogs have really good hearing- far superior to ours. And neighbours’ garden fireworks aren’t all as quiet as yours!

You've been fortunate enough to have had cats who weren't bothered. There are cats who aren't bothered, and there are cats who are. Same with dogs and horses.

I just don't understand why you wouldn't accept that not all animals (and people) are okay with fireworks, and that for some it's literally hell on earth.

@OverlyFragrant Our dog did have a heart attack and died soon after. It was heartbreaking. No amount of medication or snuggly clothes etc. helped. We still miss him 4 yrs later.

Oh behave. How can you train wildlife not to be afraid? Fireworks don’t just affect domesticated animals and not all pets can be trained. I’ll just pop out and let my horses know I really should have tried harder to train them not to be afraid of the noise tonight while they’re tearing around a field…

Also, what goes up must come down, I’ll tell the cows not be dicks and try not to eat the parts of fireworks that inevitably end up in fields while I’m out telling the horses that I failed at training them.

I’ll also mention the pregnant ewes, I’ll leave you to figure that one out for yourself since you appear to be an oracle on animals and fireworks.

Edited to add have you ever seen a horse with its rug on fire due to a firework? No? I thought not. I have and it’s horrific.

Fireworks have gotten louder that is the biggest issue with them. When I was small, they used to snap, crackle, and fizz if you were lucky. Now it sounds like you are in the middle of a warzone.

My biggest dog used to love them until one exploded against our window this Halloween while I was on the treadmill, injuring both the dog and me and destroying the plant containing DH's ashes.

They are so unnecessary when silent displays exist.

Shaking your house? Is it made of cardboard?

Like I said, I've lived in built up areas and it's this kind of stuff that makes me wonder if it's all hyperbole.

The zoo stuff is interesting as that definitely didn't seem to happen years ago, so I wonder if they are louder.

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? @SoldTheMovieRights
Yeah you obviously really don't get it.

Do you really think so many people would be petitioning and complaining if that's all it is.

For a start, when are fireworks ever "at worst" just a few minutes?

It's like Google never existed ...

I have cats, I don't see the problem with fireworks. I like around a lot of farms - farmers never seem to raise an issue. I feel that dogs should be easy enough to manage with a bit of distraction inside. I suppose if I saw the impact for myself I might think differently.

I’m in SE London and it’s defeaning. Pretty much everyone on the street is letting them off, as well as the 3 local churches we have within about 100m, it’s really, really loud. My DC are teens and the cat is completely unfazed, but I can completely understand if you have a nervous pet or a baby it would be pretty intrusive.

We used to have a dog that was scared of fireworks … and thunder. I still love them.

Farmers do say there is a problem in some places
we are rural and didn’t get any fireworks so that’s fine

if the noise doesn’t disturb you it may say more about your hearing than anything

I absolutely love fireworks. Loud ones especially. Its one of my favourite things. However, as im pregannt now I haven't been out over last 2 months to my usual events. I normally just put TV on loud before going out for my dog. To watch how my dog covers and shakes in a corner of a room and I cant get him out and watching him jump everytime and run and panic. Its broken me. I actually am joining the ban loud fireworks. Its a shame as I love them, but as writing this ive had to further comfort him as I could hear him crying. And he wont move now for hours because he will be too scared.

YES, explosions in the sky can make walls shake. Take it up with the laws of physics.

You are literally being told on this thread that they are louder.

And that it was already a problem decades ago.

How many zookeepers who have worked in zoos for 30 odd years have you spoken to, to come to your conclusion that "that definitely didn't seem to happen years ago"?

At least TRY to engage your thinking and learning skills. Or go to bed. One or the other.

“I can’t hear anything therefore nothing noisy is happening anywhere in the world.”

“My pets are fine therefore all pets are fine.”

Admit it OP. You’re just bored. No one is that thick. Are they?

Fireworks were set off for the first time in our estate tonight, new estate and my dog was shaking and crying in the kitchen. She trembled in my arms for ages afterwards, I know certain people will say tough....but it was horrible to see her that way. Never saw her like that before.

My cat was terrified last time there were fireworks in my village. And she was inside at the time.

I don’t get it either tbh, I have 5 dogs that all live outside and not one of them are bothered by fireworks,they sat watching them all night while my neighbours let them off.

Do you realise animals hear at different frequencies to humans?

I don't understand this, mine are fine too but surely you must realise that some animals are so affected by it that it can actually kill them.

My dog is absolutely petrified. I don’t actually mind Diwali or New Year because it is just one night and I give him a calmer downer I got from the vet. Halloween is a nightmare as around us the fireworks continue for a month.

I love a firework display. But not random fireworks fired off for a whole month.

Must be the same for every single other dog then if your 5 aren’t bothered

I agree OP. I live in a built up area and my neighbours let off fireworks every year. I have two dogs and neither are bothered by the noise. We've always desensitised any pets to firework noise/door bells/loud noises and have never had a problem. I don't understand why more dog owners don't do this.

You are comparing the hearing of animals to that of your sleeping child? Upon reflection have you considered animals can hear noises more acutely then humans?

DGcat seems to enjoy them. This is him watching through the window