Just heared on the news that a pup was killed after youths had been playing with fireworks.Apparently cries were heared after fireworks had been let off and a puppy was found in a box and sadly died before reaching the vets

I had a firework put down the back of my shirt when I was 14 - luckily, it shot back out, taking skin and most of my hair. I can honestly say that I was terrified. Its about time ALL fireworks were banned

I'm from New Zealand and living in lovely UK now. And this year is the first experance I've had of the power of your fireworks.....they are mini boom's!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was sitting inside when a huge bang went off (felt like it was directly overhead). It gave me a hell of a fright and I thought the world was comming to an end. I went outside to see what was going on, only to find that they were being lit well over the other side of town.
Back in NZ the only people who can posses and use that kind of strength of fireworks are the pros for special display's. VERY FREAKY!!!!

It's the same in Canada. Fireworks allowed to the public are much smaller and far less dangerous (though still definitely dangerous) than the ones availalbe over here. In Canada you need a license and firemen on site to use the types that are available to the general public over here. It terrifies me what could happen.

W

oh thats awful( BAN fire works now)

omg thats awful & tomorrow it will go on all night

It was going on all night here today!!!

This just totally distresses me - not only are pets killed and maimed but people's children too. Ban fireworks for sale to the general public. Why do we need them??? Certainly the people that buy them can't be trusted with them. Would we let people go out and buy grenades for instance??? I think not.

CG

It also said on the Teletext news that it was thought that some of the children who did this to the puppy were 12 years old :( The whole fireworks thing just makes me sick, and what happened to the poor wee pup is disgusting and vile.

Lesley

That is so sad.Poor little thing.
Chow

It's terrible I also feel that fireworks should be banned. I hate the 3 months leading up to bonfire night because that's how far ahead they are used near my parents house. Although where I live is a council estate they don't seem to mess about with fireworks as much as they do near where my parents live.

I HATE FIREWORKS. The dogs and myself haven't been out properly for the last 3 weeks.

Hi,

Personally, fireworks are explosives therefore in my opinion they should be banned and require a special licence to be used for big displays only,not for general public use,they
are nothing short of down right dangerous to children and animals alike.
It needs people to bring it to the attention of their local MP and get these dangerous weapons banned for good.

Regards Briony

What a shame they won't put as much effort into getting rid of fireworks (explosives) as they are in banning hunting

I wonder how many of the people who claim to hate hunting 'cos it's cruel' will be setting off fireworks over the next few weeks - causing far more distress to far more animals than hunting ever does?

Absolutely. And lets not forget the main reason for not banning fireworks would be the "loss of jobs" and the "devastation of an industry". Ironic. Fireworks frighten animals, people and children, kill, maim, damage...and are far, far, more lethal than a BB or Air Gun for example - yet they are allowed to be purchased from dodgy shops, garden centres etc etc...

I agree Fireworks should not be on sale to the general public. If they must have them,they should only be for public displays by people who are licensed to use them .The loss of jobs aspect is hypocrisy How many jobs have gone in the NHS,shipbuilding,steelworks and many more industries which did not produce lethal, unnecessary objects. The general public do not want the indiscriminate use of fireworks,and the Government should realise that the loss of a few jobs is a small price to pay to prevent the misery of animals,old people,babies and the hundreds of people who are maimed each year.

the last cat my mum rescued had its tail and left back leg missing because someone had tied a firework to its tail, there are some very stupid people out there

at my nephews birthday party they had some fireworks and i made sure my boys were sitting a decent way away and could see without any harm until my stupid brother in law thought it would be funny to tie a teddy to the firework and it veared off course and hit my little boy on the shoulder, he had a thick coat on and it hit him so hard he had a perfect circle bruise on his shoulder for over a week, the words i used that night to descibe my husbands relatives were choice to say the least and has made my little boy scared to go and watch a firework display just because people are so stupid and dont follow the rules

Hi,

A firework landed in our garden tonight, I saw it through the kitchen window.

The speed it was travelling at was amazing.

I'm so glad we had brought the dogs in.

Ban them from public sale.

Organised events is what they should be for, nobody is safe any more.

Here here. Ban them. I've not been able to walk my dogs at night for the past 3 weeks.:(

Sarah

Why in this modern day and age,do we need explosive fireworks,if the industry is at risk why do they not turn their skills to laser light shows? The lighting effects used throughout America are fantastic,non damaging to pets (noise wise) although bright lights can be somewhat disturbing.Of course there is also the worry of causing fits in some human conditions.But at least it would be an alternative to some stupid item containing gunpowder or such equivilent explosive device!
It's bad enough around here putting up with crow scaring shotgun noises and the army exercises going on without damn fireworks!

If everyone who is against fireworks declined to shop in shops where they are sold (and went in to tell them why) then I imagine this would go a long way to getting them stopped

Christine

Oh my god, that is terrible... i cant actually post what i thought but i bet you can guess.
As for 12 yr olds doing it... what the hell were they doing with fireworks at 12?? And to harm a puppy at 12 is beyond me!
We dont buy fireworks as i view them as dangerous, only at work the other day we were saying they should only be used at controlled displays.
God bless the puppy x

Donna and charliex

What the hell were 12yr olds doing with them?

The other week at the back of our house a young lad, no more than 15 was letting off fireworks.

I spoke to one of the younger girls who often comes out when we walk our dogs, we were about to walk them until this idiot let them off.

The young girl told me that he had told all the younger children he gets them off his dad and his dad allows him to have fireworks because he is sensible.

Sensible is letting them off on a field right near to houses and with younger children right near him and where many dogs go for a walk. I don't think this sensible.

I was also told he's putting them in bins in the park.

This child was reported but I don't know if anyone turned up, if they did he isn't frightened because he's had fireworks three times since and been reported a further time.

Not enough people have the flexibility or the luxury to stop shopping at Tesco etc - and the ones who do make a point to the people who work there - will it get them anywhere? No. The Goverment should look at what is really important at the moment, and ban these dangerous weapons immediately.

Fireworks were banned over here (Northern Ireland) untill just a couple of years ago. We had none of the hassle, except for a few illegally imported ones that weren't easy to get a hold of so kids didn't bother.

They then lifted the ban to put us in line with the mainland (should have just banned them on mainland) realised after 2 years it was a mistake and have tried banning them again :rolleyes:

Needless to say it hasn't worked and they are easily bought 'under the counter' and from 'dodgy' market traders bringing them over from England. We have been tortured for weeks.

As for the jobs market argument I think the majority of them are made overseas anyway :(

Hi Wishfairy

I noticed on my way up to the Belfast Show in September that there are many fireworks shops just over the border. (For those that don't know fireworks are illegal down here in the Republic). What intrigued me was that, without fail, every single car in the customers car parks all had southern plates! Surely the gardai are aware of this! Last weekend (halloween) when i took the dogs out for their late night last run out all i could hear were guns....well, they must have been guns surely, as fireworks are illegal down here!! ;o/

I think if the UK banned them, they'd just make the whole deal more subversive, and those that wanted them would find ways of getting them. Personally I think 'licensing' them would be the most effective way!

Caroline

It makes me sick that we are constantly having the threat of terrorism rammed down our throats by Bush & Blair as a justification for their vile actions and yet we are selling explosives to children. What is that about?

fireworks should be banned, my husband was just about hit in the face last night with a rocket when in the back garden with the dogs.my 6 month pup lucy came into the house with a bit of a firework in her mouth that was hot. we have had fireworks for weeks, we also have a bitch who is nursing her puppies and she is petrefied of fireworks.

they should be banned!!!!

shame about the wee pup it's so sad.
violet-anne

How sick :(

Did anybody see GMTV this morning re the firework that went through a window into a babies room almost destroyed the ceiling and made a hole in the floor when it landed and exploded. The baby was luckily down stairs other wise it could have been fatal.

did anyone see the news report about the kids who went in a pet shop bought a baby gerbil and then tied it to a rocket??.

No, didn't see the report.

Thats sick, how old were these children?

What makes a child want to do something like that?

This world is just getting worse.

There are too many fire.w out there that are way way too big, to here the ones that were near me last night was awful, my poor girl was so scared, it was awful to see her like that. She jumps a mile. What happens to those poor dogs who are heavily pregnant and scared of fire.w surely it could cause her to lose them. BAN FIRE WORKS NOW

CALLS FOR STRICTER LAWS

An 11-month-old dog died after a firework was tied to its tail and lit.

The boxer was rushed to a vet shortly after the incident in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, but died of severe burns and shock.

The incident left the dog's owners distraught, said the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA).

A spokeswoman described the attack as "abhorrent".

The SSPCA was alerted after a neighbour heard children letting off fireworks and moments later heard the dog's cries.

The dog had escaped from its owner's garden.

A SSPCA spokeswoman said: "It was extremely cruel and totally abhorrent. I do not know how anyone could do that to a dog.

"No animal should be abused in this way for human entertainment and it just shows the need for the control of fireworks."

The spokeswoman, who said no-one had witnessed the attack, described the moments leading up to the incident.

"There was some children playing with fireworks in the Wishaw area.

"Some minutes later someone living nearby heard a dog in distress. They rushed out to find the dog severely burned and in shock."

She added: "The dog was in a terrible condition and the owners are obviously distraught."

Taken from SkyNews

I can't say what I'd do to them if I saw them

We have to bans these fireworks now.

I'm sorry but banning fireworks isnt going to stop these people being sick and they'll just find another way to abuse animals instead.

Yes they shouldnt be readily available to children but isnt there a law that says you have to be over 18 to buy them

I personally love fireworks, I make sure all my animals are indoors and comfy and then go outside and enjoy them.

I cant agree with a ban on this one!

Sorry R, I disagree....Banning fireworks will stop them being sick to animals in ONE extremely cruel way. This isn't just neglect, or minor cruelty - someone strapped a baby gerbil to a rocket yesterday and tied one to the tail of a dog! What else could possibly come close to how cruel that is and still be legal?

I loathe fireworks. I am sick to death of "other people's" enjoyment frightening my animals, keeping me and the kids awake at stupid-o-clock and even bouncing into my back garden in the past! If people were a tad more considerate it wouldn't be as bad.

I'd like to learn to shoot with a handgun, but they got banned because of a couple of isolated events (despite most people who have them being responsible in their sport), why is that fireworks attract cruel, irresponsible, inconsiderate idiots like the plague, yet still remain on sale to the general public??!!

Too right, Chloe.

And there goes the first one tonight.

In today's Scottish daily Record,there was a report of 2 dogs killed yesterday due to fireworks. One was a Hungarian Visla which bolted from it's owner when a firework went off,and was found dead on the railway line. The other was a border collie who had apparantly had to be PTS because of severe stress,caused by fireworks being set off. There are pictures of both dogs in the paper. very sad

No i dont think they should be banned! why spoil childrens fun??
i think they need to be kept on stricked licences and not be able to bought by the public. except sparklers. and only be set of on either the sat that week or firework night .

when i was small a firework nearly hit me my dad pulled me out the way just in a split second of a time. but still i think they create alot of enjoyment for everyone .and its only once a year .
.
saying ban them is like saying put all dangrous dogs listed to sleep
rember its the owners fault. so they should stay but in a display!

I meant ban them from general sale.

Only organised displays. Whereby people have to have a licence of some kind to purchase them.

If only it was only once a year, Lady. :( But it's several weeks before (and after) November 5th, Christmas, New Year, and anybody's birthday too.

I think it's just splitting hairs. When MOST people are talking about banning them, they mean banning sale to the public. I don't think any one has a problem with licensed displays. I certainly don't and we have licenced displays that take place 1/3 mile down the road. BUT at least I KNOW when they will happen and I don't have to sit home every night for 4-5 weeks with freaking out dogs. A couple of nights over the weekends is fine.

WEndy

I have every sympathy for the people who lost their dogs but surely the man shouldnt have had the dog out during fireworks if he knew it was that scared of them and if he didnt know how the dog would react he should have had it on a lead.
And a dog who had to be put to sleep becasue of stress??????????? I cant believe an otheriwse healthy dog could be pts becasue it was stressed out, surely just a sedative to calm it down, or even knock it out. Having it put to sleep was a bit OTT surely!!!

Someone on another list lost her elderly dog last night after a deliberate bombardment of her house with fireworks. The vet considers the dog's death was a direct result of the fireworks.
A baby's nursery was gutted a few night's ago a few miles from me when a rocket was fired through her bedroom window - the damage was unbelievable. Thankfully the child was teething and had been taken out of the room a few moments before - otherwise she could be dead. Several animals have been deliberately tied to fireworks and died in excruciating pain.

These things are lethal explosives - weapons - and should not be on sale to anyone at the corner shop. They should be restricted to organised licensed events only. Then we could all enjoy them without the pain.

Janet

Rather difficult to avoid when they go on for weeks if not months before November 5th - not to mention New Year, 4th July (yes even in the UK!) and a host of parties. Can't keep dogs in for weeks! If it was only one or two nights a year then it would be OK but it isn't.

Janet

I've known of dogs who have bolted through glass windows in terror of fireworks, and also, have you seen a dog so completely stressed over fireworks. One of mine had herself so stressed, panting, shaking, heartrate through the roof that I honestly thought she was going to give herself a heart attack.

When people are talking about stressed dogs they're not just talking about 'worried' dogs. They are talking at times about dogs who are practically terrified to DEATH. If you've not seen a dog in this condition then fair enough, but believe me - it DOES get that bad.

Wendy

Rachel - how do you know the man had his dog out at night or even actually on firework night. This message came through on another list that I'm on. The man had his dog out DURING DAYLIGHT ON 12TH NOVEMBER well past official fireworks days - why should we have to keep our dogs in 24/7 for weeks on end because other people are irresponsible.

HERE is the story - hope you don't think HE was irresponsible for having his dog out during daylight a week after the 5th:
_____________
Spririt had been missing for one week today, when I got the bad
news.

He had unfortunately been frightened by a firework and took off from
the field where I walk. He was hit right near my house and ran down
the road screaming (this is the information I got from the driver).
We had been told of a sighting about 5 miles away at Horsell common,
after putting up many posters and after exhaustive hours of
searching, I have only had about 8 hours sleep in the past week, the
news comes, as bad as it is, as some relief. He was found about 20
doors down from where we live in a lady's back garden, curled up as
if he had just gone to sleep. His injuries on the outside looked
minor, but must have taken a full hit, causing massive internal
injury.

He has been laid to rest in a beautiful area of the Surrey
countryside, where I often walk my dogs and he should be able to go
off now and really enjoy freedom and hunting as only he would know
how with his long lost brother - Ali (my first Pharaoh).
_________________

It's time the public did NOT have access to them. Pure and simple

Wendy

hi '
I live in Wishaw and i never buy my kids fire works.Wish they were banned .
Was horrified when i heard about the boxer as if they can treat a dog this way ,what else would they do? risk a human life!

I really hope that one day it will only be local authority run firework displays allowed , like the one in Strathclyde park.

We had an idiot going round in a car throwing fireworks out the window,luckily there is some cctv camera nearby and the police witness it before anyone was hurt.
WHAT go's through these peoples head?

Pamie o

Hi Guys I have to agree with the banning of fireworks. We have had them for at least three or four weeks now and we'll have them now, on and off until New Year time. It's ridiculous that children are able to get hold of something that is so lethal. As for the little boxer puppy in Wishaw, that's not that far from me, and I can honestly say that I felt physically sick when I heard about this. How that poor little mite must have suffered. Baillie has had to be sedated over the last week and last night, we had to give him two sedatives, it's awful he can hardly stand up, and whilst he loves going for his walks, he'll hardly go outside. When will they learn