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.

So, I have hyperacusis and fireworks are a total nightmare for me. The only thing that I have as an advantage over an animal is that I know when fireworks are coming, I know when they'll be over and I know how to cope (just about). But the sound is like bombs going off. The worst place I lived was deep in the suburbs when everyone let huge fireworks off for the entire week around Guy Fawkes. Now I live in a far quieter area so with ear plugs AND ear defenders AND closing myself in a corridor away from windows I manage. My cat is far less bothered than me but he's kept in of course. I wish they were banned for anything other than public displays.

ODFOD and Happy New Year to you.

Edited to add of course we get packs of wild dogs and a clowder of cats just wandering up to a very rural area upsetting the wildlife. 🙄

“but surely you don't get louder fireworks in built up areas?”

You think people only let those off in areas that aren’t built up? Ha ha at the idea that people are that thoughtful.
Few families/kids live in my immediate area so few fireworks here (Hurrah!) but other places I’ve lived…….. hours of really loud incessant fireworks at new years that start at 10pm and go on until 2-3am! Such fun.

I think I'm going to start a thread that says "I'm not depressed, and I can't imagine what it's like to be depressed, so what's the deal? Why are all these depressed people making such a fuss?".

Dogs have way better hearing than a human. My dog goes crazy and will bark non stop at fireworks

Yes! And we can all comment with the arguments about how damaging anxiety is and how that’s the real problem.

I love fireworks and I'm not a dog person, but I'd be in favour of banning all but official licensed displays. It's got absolutely ridiculous in recent years - we've had fireworks going since tea time, and it was like a warzone between a quarter to midnight and 1 o'clock. And it's almost certain the dickhead who has set a load off at 2:30am the last couple of years will repeat the trick shortly, which is why I'm not bothering going to bed yet.

I don't see the point of writing posts about it on Facebook and the like. Presumably the people setting off fireworks are also watching them, and not looking at Facebook. I guess it's become a tradition in its own right now though.

You don’t live in the countryside. That might be true in the city but in rural areas? It’s just not.

🤦‍♀️

I have 2 dogs and 2 cats. Its a fucking nightmare.
Both dogs are shaking, panting and hiding under stuff. Cats a bit better but stressed .
We live near Goodwood so Summer is awful. Luckily no Dwali but it's horrible.
I believe there are many countries who are now enforcing drone/silent fireworks which I hope the UK followed.

I was standing at the kitchen sink as the bells went and some anti social ignoramuses started with their fireworks. I nearly had a heart attack with the fright myself so goodness knows what effect it had on the household pets and the wild birds and animals. I don't have a pet myself but I feed the wild birds and that must have been absolutely terrifying for them.

As pp said fireworks used to be about the colour. Now they are just about noise.

I'm so angry one selfish person can cause so much nuisance to the whole neighbourhood.

The sooner they are banned the better.

Some people on here are either stupid, ignorant or narrow minded.
I am an experienced dog owner, all my dogs have been trained properly, calm dogs and well balanced.
Until random very loud fireworks go off very close by out of nowhere and for no reason whatsoever. It is a traumatic experience and it really does affect an animal which was indifferent to fireworks and the damage is irreversible. There's no training to erase that. Full stop. Yes, we tried everything and nothing works to undo the damage.
One of my dogs will be forever terrified because one bad experience and the other dog is still not bothered thankfully. So I medicate the scared dog when I know there will be loud fireworks. Nothing I can do about any other times when wankers decide to just let off fireworks for 'fun'.
I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like for horses.
For sure fireworks are much, much, much louder that they were 20 years ago. It is unnecessary. I'd start by banning loud fireworks. There are quieter ones available.

Fireworks available in retail shops have included many more loud variations and much louder overall than say 15-20 years ago. The resonating deep booming ones are now normal. While I enjoy fireworks I do think that there should be a restriction on the size and nature of those sold outside of commercial/professional displays. Our dog’s behaviour has changed since the end of last October, she is now hyper vigilant on evening walks and frequently refuses to walk if she thinks she’s heard a loud noise. And Guy Fawkes season itself was terrible, trying to help her feel safe even in the house. She’s eight years old and previously not particularly bothered- the anxiety has developed quite recently. Not easily resolved through training.

Some people just don't like fireworks in any format and will use pets as an excuse. If we as a country eventually switch to drone shows, they will find something to complain about it relation to those, too. I think it's the concept of people celebrating that's the problem.

It’s not just pets, wildlife and livestock are traumatised too. They’ve been going off since about 8pm, often very loud ones, not just little pops.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1C4WR8iqmE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I never minded either but now I has acoustic shock disorder noise really affects the ringing in my ears and hypercauses and makes them sore and it has really made me realise how loud everything is and more empathetic towards people with hearing issues and some pets have even more sensitive hearing

Yes, a bit like cats having a stronger sense of smell.. Some cats apparently prefer outdoor rather than tap water because the chlorine in tap water tastes stronger to them.

They were very loud where I am and our cat was petrified. She ran from one room and went behind the sofa, then under the sofa for about 35 minutes. She was shaking.

I have just got home (gone 2am) after helping to look for a little dog who has gone missing, bolted out the gate because of fireworks. No joy. She’s out in the cold tonight. Try telling that family and their distraught children tonight there is no problem with fireworks.

I went outside at 12 to hear the fireworks. Sounded like the blitz. But I made sure to take my dog out as a puppy for a walk or to throw the ball on bonfire night and consequently, the fireworks never bothered her. Half the trouble is the mollycoddling, but that's no help to a dog owner who's dog is terrified.

We have had quite a few cats and dogs during 40 years of marriage. Also had a few cats as a child. Not one of them were bothered at all by fireworks.
Had bonfires and fireworks in our garden and pets not bothered at all.
I do see now that some pets are frightened by the noise due to social media, but not once have I heard personally of anyone’s pet reacting in this way.
we don’t do fireworks now, due to age. I do empathise if it is an issue for people, and yes it something that is not necessary to life so if it is now an issue should be looked at.
Most people want to be kind to pets so I’m sure neighbours would not do this if they realised the extent of the problem.

Many pets have highly sensitive hearing plus they don't understand or see the point of fireworks.

Having said that my dog is not upset by them.

Fireworks happen every year yet pet owners fail to get something from the vet to help their pets cope every year. Plan ahead and the stress would be lessened. I think people just want to moan.