I think I'd support a ban on personal use fireworks...

[RiceButt]

...after just stepping in sloppy cat shit on the bedroom floor.

My poor cats usually cope pretty well, they usually hide themselves away for a few hours but a few neighbours have been letting some loud bangers off.

[BulletFox]

Yeah, agree about a certain degree of licensing. It's slightly nazi-ish in practice though, as where does it stop? Would you tell people not to have children?

My username is because I accidentally inherited some firearms. It's all being dealt with correctly and there's no question about ownership but they need a licence, I have no good reason to keep them apart from owning them but still need to decide what to do about it.

It can be a minefield, licensing

[OddBoots]

RavingRoo - don't own one myself but I'm grateful for the neighbourhood cats for keeping the urban rat and mouse populations in check. Does pest control count in your logic?

[RainbowCookie]

Private fireworks are banned here, you need a licence and you don't see them in the shops. Oddly I live in a developing country but our laws are more sensible than UK. There used to be the odd public display but there was lots of boycotts and petitions so they have mainly died down now. I'm enjoying a very peaceful evening - we get the odd firework for Divali but that's about it

[confused123456]

My cat wants to go out. He's not bothered at all.
It's a few nights a year people have fireworks.
Surely people can manage and cope with it?

[Thinkingofausername1]

My dog isn’t happy tonight either

[BulletFox]

Confused, actually mine's ok tonight. She's just snuggled up in my boots and seems happy.

It's nice your cat is oblivious to it. It's common sense in a way, you learn when something distresses someone (or pet) and try to minimalise impact accordingly.

Mine gets distressed by hot air balloons or fireworks so I keep her in at certain times

[mydogmymate]

It’s only a few nights a year? It goes on and on for weeks and I live in a street full of wankers who think it’s such a laugh to keep letting them off from now till new year. I’ve got scared animals too and I have to stay in with them, which is my choice, but it would be so much easier if it was licensed and kept to one day.

[Shiela2017]

RavingRoo they are chickens that I rescued from a battery farm. They had a horrific life squashed indoors until two years old before they are usually carted off to the dog food factory in a terrible featherless state. All so people can get cheap eggs and Mr kipling cakes.....

[Shiela2017]

People who set off fireworks are complete wankers.

[LineysRun]

My older cat is a rescue. She mouses our Victorian house. Is that allowed??

[ferrier]

Agreed. I don't really see why things which cause such suffering to so much wildlife, some pets and many people are still sold to the general public.

[Stormwhale]

Yep. I'm waiting for ddog to have an accident indoors because she is too scared to go in the garden. She had diarrhoea last night and today and I think it is stress.

We went to a firework display last night (ddog was babysat by pils, not alone and scared) and got our fix. Surely that is enough for anyone? Why the need to have them at home?

[LineysRun]

It's like fucking bombs going off outside now. How can this be legal?

[mamamalt]

Agreed!! Next door we’re letting their small child let them off by holding them in his hand!! just standing in the front garden with continuous banging. It was half nine and we have a one year old so I told them to stop please! But I was an absolute nervous wreck for him!

[FannyTheFlamingo]

Fireworks are banned where I live. They lift the ban for 2 or 3 days to incorporate Bonfire night, but other than that they are pretty much non existent, bar a couple of pre arranged things that have to be applied for. I have a baby and pets and totally support the ban.

[Butterymuffin]

I'd support a ban too. Not just for the benefit of pets - it would be the best way of eliminating injuries of all kinds from fireworks. But there seems to be no political interest in it. If when we get a change of government maybe it's worth trying the petitions again.

[MycatsaPirate]

I'd support a ban too.

We have five cats and a foster cat (who I only picked up today).

Two boys are fine. The three girls aren't. One pissed all over the floor and hid in the laundry cupboard, one vanished completely and after an hour of searching the house, finally found her in the back of a food cupboard in the kitchen, the third has been glued to me all evening.

Foster baby is jumpy but she has been living outside until today and is probably just grateful to be indoors in the warm and feeling safe.

What pissed me off was next door had fireworks last night and didn't even bother to let us know.

[Judydreamsofhorses]

My poor wee cat has been so scared over the last few nights, and is still off her stot today. She spent most of yesterday huddled on the bench under the kitchen table. I’d definitely support a ban.

[Broken11Girl]

I'd support a ban, although my cat isn't really bothered - many animals are. They're dangerous. I'd also support licences to own an animal.

[LineysRun]

You'd think last night would have been it, wouldn't you? But no, here we are on Monday night at 11pm, after the 5th November, and some fucker up the road is letting off maximum volume rockets and bombers.

The family next to me has a seriously ill older relative trying to 'get some rest'. My animals are yet again freaked out, and I won't get to sleep till whenever it stops and I've got an early start.

Just bloody sick of it now. How can it be legal?