Fire work ban anyone?

[jules77]

http://epetitions.dir...ov.uk/petitions/40401

[Pumbah]

Clearly, old geezer, you've never seen the annual Fireworks Championship held over two nights on Plymouth Hoe. SIX organised displays in all, and I defy any 'private' display to match just one of them. The best display I ever saw, bar none, was very organised (albeit by Disney in Florida), and done evry night.

[chaptazbru]

Well done D97.

[woofgang]

This is now the fifth successive night of local fireworks here....Dogs are panicking and I am fed up....surely the weekend was enough? The house stinks of smoke even though i have the windows shut. I wonder what people with asthma and COPD do?

[Zacs-Master]

Not signed. We've just spent £50 sending Zac to kennels for 4 nights to spare him 4 months (I kid you not) of trauma. I wouldn't dream of spoiling other people's fun.

[owdhamer]

Sorry.

[maggiebee]

Think it would be a tad hypocritical if I signed this. I loved fireworks as a child and my dad always built a big bonfire every year for the local kids. Roman candles, bangers, Catherine Wheels, rockets etc were enjoyed by all.

[NOX]

No sorry, certainly not signing that, there is no excuse if you have had your pet from very young why it should be frightened of fireworks- none of my dogs are, the exception being an older rescue dog who took some convincing but was eventually, likewise the cats couldn't give a toss- it's not accidental or ' lucky' or anything else it's because I bothered to acclimatise them to it when they were young- like any other training or behaviour adjustment, why can't other people be bothered to do it?
It's for a few nights per year that fireworks go off, so seriously just let people have a small amount of fun.

[ChuckFickens]

Nox, I think this explains why some dogs are scared of fireworks...
http://kamiryn.files..../10/dog-carrier-2.jpg

(I grew up on farms and I know none of the dogs or cats would have cared less about fireworks, they were used to bird scarers and shotguns everyday)

[woofgang]

Nox, i wish it was as easy as you say. My first dogs were not afraid of fireworks until they were out in the garden a WEEK before bonfire night and one of the mortar type exploded overhead. I was out there with them and while I did jump, I was not scared myself and didn't make any fuss. From that moment on they were scared of fireworks and our best efforts never changed that.
Then we had a bitch who didn't give a damn.
My current dogs are happy lively and outgoing. They have done all the stuff you should do with puppies to acclimatise them to strange sight and sounds and they are TERRIFIED of fireworks. If you have never had a dog who is then you are very lucky.
As I said on another thread, personally i would like to see them banned. I accept that that is a selfish attitude tout court.
I don't think it would be unreasonable though to limit further the noise that fireworks produce (and a local public display was advertised this year as
"going back to traditional effects, expect to hear and see massive bangs") and also to limit the days when fireworks may be set off, possibly to the night itself and the nearest friday and saturday. That way the public get to have their "fun" and my poor dogs' fear can be more easily managed because I will know which nights I have to watch them suffer.

[woofgang]

Chuck, my dogs are GSP x Weimaraner!!!!

[ladybirder]

I only take rescue dogs, old ones. Last one was 13 and already terrified of fireworks, not much you can do with a dog of that age except comfort them when they are frightened. But having lived in the country and seen cows so petrified they were charging round the field in panic, and goats freaking out because the idiot who had his holiday home next to the field thought it funny showing off to his friends by letting off industrial bangers, yes I'll sign for organised displays only.

[dotty.]

i've posted a video of the edinburgh mess in chatterbank

[Jordyboy9]

thanks dotty i dont know how

[seadogg]

Good for you ladybirder, and I know an old greyhound who would second that.

[ladybirder]

Oh bless. Thank you seadogg.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

I have two cats, one of which is skittish. She hid behind the sofa for a while, no big deal.
Fireworks are lovely and recent legislation about noise and when they're allowed makes them bearable.
I'd rather hear the odd rogue one than be part of a society that doesn't let others have fun.

[NOX]

I've seen PLENTY of dogs scared of fireworks, usually because their owners didn't acclimatise them ( granted if you take rescue dogs you get what you get and you can't always cure that) but I'm sorry it's still not a reason for dog owners to decide that fireworks ought to be banned.
Every year I get into this conversation about banning fireworks/ acclimatising dogs and usually post a link to how you do it, but I can't be bothered google it for yourselves, it's very easy, just another part of dog ownership imho. Of course nothing is perfect, but the majority of dogs can live happily with fireworks as can the majority of people- therefore why try to spoil things for everyone else?

[pastafreak]

Signed...

It's ok to say we should aclimatise our animals to noise. Easy if you have a dog from puppyhood. Not easy with a rescue
My lurcher Sally did not come to me until she was 2...never been in a house,up stairs,seen toys,needed house training,scared of her shadow. Terrified of loud noises...and some that I can't hear. I need to keep her on lead constantly this time of year-any bang will cause her to bolt home. I live about a mile from the local marine barracks-pistol practice there will send her running. So the past few nights have been torture for her.
At least with planned,organised displays,I'd know when to expect to pill her,wrap her...do whatever is needed to at least calm her a bit.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

I'm sorry Pastafreak but I don't agree. It was your choice to get your dogs and your choice of the environment you brought them into, so if it's urban, there's going to be fireworks.
I can't help feeling that there is some mollycoddling going on here. Even Terrorcat just hides for an hour or two because I'm not bothered in the slightest. She always has that sense of security.
I wonder how many of the people calling for a ban on behalf of their pets are a little bit frightened themselves?