Dog lovers: firework displays should only be allowed on four days each year

Dog lovers want unnecessary firework displays banned
PA
Jamie Bullen17 May 2016

Dog lovers have called on the Government to restrict private firework displays to just four days of the year amid fears loud noises are making their pets lives a misery.

More than 100,000 people have backed an e-petition which calls for the public’s use of fireworks to be used on traditional celebration dates only.

Supporters want the Fireworks Act 2003 and Firework Regulations 2004 to be reformed so that private displays can only take place on traditional celebration days such as Guy Fawkes Night, New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year.

The campaign has been backed by the RSPCA who say thousands of dogs are distressed by fireworks every year while owners say it is impossible to plan ahead for displays held on unusual dates.

The charity said it has received 1,500 calls from dog owners in the past five years with the number of calls increasing from 255 in 2011 to 386 last year, a rise of more than 50 per cent.

Ari Winfield, the RSPCA's campaign manager, said: "The RSPCA believes the Fireworks Act 2003 and the Fireworks Regulations 2004 don't go far enough.

“We want to see the government take advantage of this by strengthening the existing acts and restricting the use of fireworks to traditional dates of the year like Bonfire Night.”

Julie Doorne, who launched the e-petition, told the Times: "The use of fireworks is getting out of control — while no one would want to stop people having fun or celebrating special dates like New Year's Eve, these celebrations are going on for weeks during autumn and winter.

"I have heard examples of pet owners having to put their pets in boarding and even some owners moving house to more rural areas to escape the noise."

Dog owner Claire Ewers told the paper it was “heartbreaking” to think of her pets home alone while loud explosions are taking place nearby.

She said: “They will often be sick, and mess themselves too. You just never know when fireworks will go off — especially during fireworks season, which can last from October right through to January."

Fireworks cannot be set off from 11pm to 7am except for Bonfire Night when the cut-off time is midnight while New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year has a 1am limit.

The petition will be debated in Parliament next month.

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