I agree that fireworks should be banned. Where I used to live the local kids were always getting hold of them and throwing them at each other and anyone passing. You couldn't walk round the town centre for weeks because of it.

Our old dog used to have to be kept sedated for a few weeks every year because she was so scared of the noise, she was a nervous wreck the whole time

fireworks should be banned from public sale. not so much around my area but round my grandparents area it is really bad with kids of 12-16 leting off fireworks in the woods. one of our dogs is petrified of them, she had a bad experiance of having one go off just a few meters from her and since then she has not liked them. she was just getting better and as she went our for her evening walk (5pm) in the woods a firework was let off and thats it. shes not steping outside that house at all! the thing is its not just at night they were letting them off.

last week it was half term in our area and during the day at 3 o'clock they were being let off! there was smoke down in the vally and no way were my two bitches going to go any further, we had to turn back taking thier exercise short. On the 5th of hovember then our dogs DO NOT go outside unless supervised in the garden. Animals have to go out and shouldnt be forced to stop just because of the risk of fireworks. it wont stop untill the new year now unfortantly.

Also due to privet displays i cannot go out and watch a public display tonight because we dont want to leave the dogs in the house on thier own.

bring on the ban is all i can say and i hope it does go through!!!!

By the way i dont have a problem with public displays on just one day a year!

Hi,

My children which I have 4 love fireworks as most children do.However if they want to see them I take them to an organised display.

Lets face it most children over 12 are not interested why we celebrate bonfire night or care less.For some adults its just another excuse to throe a party get drunk and go completely stupid with these things in their own garden where the fireworks then become dangerous missiles and a nuissance to the rest of the general public and the wildlife,pets.
Then we also have the children and teenagers trying to act clever to copy these so called adults in their stupidity and innocent animals get the backlash.

There is no reason to have fireworks in your garden I don't believe they are safe in fact
I think now they have become even more dangerous having worked in A/E i HAVE SEEN THE DAMAGE these dangerous things do :-(.The sooner they are banned the better.

Briony

I don't know what its like where everyone else lives but its like a war zone here!!!
the puppies won't settle and keep crying but i don't know if its the noise, just strange how they are normally quiet unless its feed time......ban the bloody things thats what i say!!!
got the tv full blast cos nobody can hear it

To add my tuppence worth to an already well discussed post I love watching a fireworks display with all the coloured stars etc,but why do they have to make bangers? What purpose do they serve,apart from frightening the life out of animals,children and old people.If they banned bangers and only made roman candles,rockets etc. everyone could enjoy the fireworks,instead of having the peace shattered by these loud unnecessary bangs. the neds only buy those to make a noise and disturb people.Ban the sale of bangers,and there will be no more disturbance.Same with drugs. make them legal,let the govt sell them and overnight get rid of drug dealers,drug barons and the associated crime that goes with it.Thats another subject,but you get my meaning. take them out of circulation,and let us all get on with our lives

no matter how many restrictions are made there is always someone who will get a hold of them and sell them on the black market. there are plenty of kids that are scared of fireworks not just pets.it's not just one night of the year they are let of it is weeks in advance with very serious consequences in most cases. there should be a ban, i think they are a waste of money . they are getting more dangerous every year.

well that's my opinion anyway.

omg that is awful

Not if theres a restrictions on displays only . it would be hard to keep it quite as i said they should only be able to let fireworks go of nov 5th and the saturday .
my cats are scared stiff but keep them indoors and there fine ones 17 the others 16 now ,
i know its hard with pups but mabe you could think of a way to make it a good exsp. my pup was taken to the window when she was tiny at the breeders house ever since shes always been encouraged that its a good thing , unfortunaly this year she seems over excited about it but i supose thats a good thing:)
But i still say why ban totaly . when its limited to displays only there will be half the fireworks going off , think about it that way. just cuz some of you dont like it , i dont think it should totaly be ruled out. i dont love fireworks but i am certainly not a party pooper!

I am lucky, my affie likes fireworks...took her to a display this weekend and she loved it

But for the safety of everyone I really believe they should be at official displays, with licenses, insurance, and with proper caution to safety regulations. Not even adults are particularly safe with fireworks......ive seen some really reckless things done. Accidental injuries are even more common than the disgusting deliberate use of them as a weapon. A kid deliberately let some off in the park near me the other day....I grabbed him, threw him on the ground and toook them off him.

I agree i dont think they should be able to be bought by the public adults even are sily with them.
I think that a limit of one or two day display fireworks by professionals is the way to go that way everyones happy .

I know it's really bad to knock somebody after the horrific incident with the boxer pup BUT you need to be mega mega wary of letting your dog out without taking it yourself at this time of year even in the back garden,sorry but it pays to be extra vigilant especially with pups,no bitching intended.

I can not agree with this ban it culture that seems to have gripped our Nation.I bet that when you were kids you had fire works at home with your family, thats the way it should be,I love Bonfire night and so do my kids we have a great night with family and freinds and I'm sure that applies to the majorty of people in the UK, why should we miss out because of a few mindless idiots.There are people in life who will abuse anything it is impossible to legislate for this what is after all a minority of our public. Fire works will be banned I'm sure but for me it one step nearer to a Nanny State and will be nothing more than a PR stunt to win votes as the banning of hand guns was which incidently has not stoped gun crime but has increased gun crime!.

Whistleblower - no-one wants a nanny state, but fireworks are too dangerous and too easily obtainable. Why can't there just be a compromise, where fireworks can be seen at organised public displays, leaving those of us who don't like fireworks, in peace? Having nearly had my head blown off by one, I feel I am in a position to comment on this.

That would not in my opinion be a compromise, why should I have to be forced to go to an organised display when I don't want to. For me it is a family event to be enjoyed in our own home and I hope my children will be able to do the same in years to come.Knives,Air rifles,cars,sticks,stones,screw drivers,catapults,matches,etc are all very dangerous should we ban these as well, lets hope they don't ban cotton wool as what would we wrap our selves in!

Why should I be forced to put up with weeks of bangs and flashes and people in neighbouring houses lighting fireworks at ten o clock at night? Why should my horses be injured when frightened by the damn things? There was a story recently where children had crept into a yard and set off fireworks where the horses were stabled - its disgusting.

I'd rather be wrapped in cotton wool, than have children killing animals with explosive devices bought from the dodgy local shop. And I'd rather be hit in the backside with an air rifle pellet than have a firework go off in my face.

Edit - I don't want a nanny state, but until people raise their children properly and start showing consideration for others, then this is exactly what happens. The minority ruin it for the majority.

We only get to hear about the bad things don't we, what about the hundreds of thousands of people who have a great night in their own homes.Sorry your neighbours did not invite you to their fireworks, I wonder why!

whatever.

Then fine, Whistleblower, but make sure they are let off on November 5th ONLY, then we who have animals which are terrified by them don't have to endure weeks and weeks of our animals' suffering. None at all on any other date in the year.
:)

I have not said that Fireworks should go on for months but one night in the year with family and freinds in my own home what is wrong with that.What gets my goat is people who want to ban anything they don't like or agree with.Its still a free country (just about) and I hope familys will be allowed to enjoy fireworks in their own home for years to come.

But that's the problem, Whistleblower. Unless the sale of fireworks is limited to November 5th itself, people are going to buy them earlier, and set them off on other dates. There are fireworks parties on the Friday and Saturday before and after Guy Fawkes', as well as on the day itself. They are let off at New Year (another time I'd quite like to go out celebrating, but have to stay in to prevent the dogs digging through the walls in terror), they are let off for people's birthdays, wedding parties - any time.

So unless something else is done to bring these stupid inconsiderate yobs to their senses, a complete ban it will have to be.
:)

Then when these yobs find something else to ruin we ban that as well? do you think that to ban fireworks will convert these idiots to take up knitting, why should so many go with out for a very small percentage of our population.Banning is not the answer but yes a restriction of some sort could work.

Jeanjeanie - I WISH it was only the weekends before and after. Ours started around here 2 weekends before and carried on till the middle of last week, and we still had some this past weekend, and two were let off this afternoon.

For us it's a minimum 6 week period - and for three weeks of that it is EVERY night!

Whistleblower - fine - have them available to the public, but drag their sorry butts off to jail for letting them off on ANY OTHER NIGHT EXCEPT THE LEGAL NIGHT

How's that for compromise.

Wendy

we are having firework all year round in the area where i live at all hours esp when there are football matches i also keep my letter box locked i am all for a ban on fireworks i have heard there are going to be some restrictions very sad to hear a puppy was killed in that way .

Right, i agree with a ban except organised displays!!!!!!!!!

Sorry to all those who disagree but i am sick and tired of kids and adults letting them off all over the place even in daytime. MY dog was brought up by the breeder to not be scared of fireworks, as she used a firework tape to get the pups used to these sorts of noises, but some weeks ago my dog was FRIGHTENED by IDIOTS letting off fireworks at MIDDAY. It is bloody ridiculous - anyone who cares for animals can't say that fireworks are fine, that they are harmless.

There is such a thing as leaning too much the other way. The opposite of a nanny state. We never used to have fireworks on New Year, now in this bill they are suggesting that is OK. It's NOT ok!!!!!

When i was a kid, yes we had fireworks - about 8 if i remember and it was all over in 10 minutes!!! Now the skies are alight all night for many nights surrounding the 5th November and it DOES terrify animals. They are basically available explosives.

OK kids mayenjoy it, but at what cost? As Chloe says why do we all have to endure the mindless constant letting off of these things?

I waS so angry after those kids letting off bangers at midday. I rang the police, environmental health etc. It is an offence to let fireworks off on the highway etc but of coures catching the perpretrators is the problem.

Oh yes - 2 years ago a firework damaged our carport roof. This year, one landed INSIDE my greenhouse after smashing its way through the roof at 6ft in height - thank goodness no-one was in that spot in the garden when it came down. But we are left with the damage.

My other half was cycling home past a golf course where kids were setting off rockets across the road and we actually live in a not-too-bad area for fireworks nuisance.....

For anyone who wants to contact their MP (as i have done) here's a very easy way:

www.locata.co.uk/commons

Easy peasy :)

Lindsay

The British public never cease to amaze me, they will go bonkers over something that has no real major affect on their lives but are as quiet as a mouse on real issues like the NHS, the state of our Industy,Farming,Pensions,Europe,Drug problems,the price of fuel,education these are the things you should be writing to your MPs about not fireworks for God sake.

Protested, petitioned and picketed about all those already, and am working my way down the list. It's just a question of discovering just how deaf the Government really is.

Basically, what it boils down to, is that everybody has the right to do what they want, as long as it doesn't prevent others from doing what they want, or cause actual harm.
:)

Right on as usual JG :D

Lindsay

Government is deaf from 6 weeks of loud noisy fireworks!!!! ;-)

Wendy

That's what it is ;)

Lindsay

No real effect on their lives???? Whistleblower - have you been listening to anyone's comments here? What I have read is dozens of people saying how fireworks have had a very real effect on their quality of life! If it was one night then it would be great - I love fireworks! But it isn't. We had them for a month before and 2 weeks afterwards - for the week surrounding the 5th we had them set off around us at 1 and 2 in the morning EVERY NIGHT! I am lucky in that my remaining dogs are not afraid of them but they still protest - loudly - at every big bang. So I have spent the best part of 6 weeks trying to keep them quiet. My old lad who died in the summer was however terrified of them (having had an idiot throw a banger at him as a youngster). He would physically shake and wet himself when they started - I can tell you that dealing with that for 6 weeks a year had a serious impact on my life! Now we have a brief lull before new year ....

A couple of miles from me a baby had a lucky escape when a firework was aimed at her bedroom window - went straight through and gutted the room. She had been in her cot 10 minutes earlier... Someone else I know lost an elderly dog when their house was subjected to a barrage of fireworks - the dog died later that night as a direct result of the stress suffered - that is the opinion of the treating vet not me. Go to any casualty department and see the very real effect fireworks have on people's lives every year.

The fireworks that are on sale are major explosives. They are capable of killing and maiming people and animals from a distance, capable of blowing through doors and windows. Knives, screwdrivers etc though they can be used as weapons do not have the same devastating force.

My preference would be for proper regulation - a license required to hold a display which would only be granted at specific times of year and if the venue etc are appropriate (our neighbours set off some fireworks this year less than 6 foot from a public footpath on an open plan lawn and watched from inside the house - it only needed someone to come round the corner after the fuse had been lit.... quite possible - they are on a corner...). Fireworks would then only be available to anyone with a valid licence.

Such regulation would allow you to have your family firework display but would stop the lunatics. It may seem extreme but fireworks are more comparable to guns and explosives than knives and stones. I think we should treat them comparably.

Janet

Hi to the champdogs forum, great site and this is my first posting (thought I'd pick a controversial subject!!)

I think all the main arguments against fireworks are not only valid but becoming stronger year by year as their power increases. The atrocious sick behaviour of some teenagers (and adults of course) with them, the fact that firework night is now firework week after week after week That no person and no animal should have to suffer for other peoples entertainment, and let’s face it (he says donning his grumpy old man hat) the last thing this country needs is yet another way for kids to annoy people!!!

I tend to view this from a slightly different direction that I hope makes a reasonably strong argument for government intervention. Imagine no one had ever heard of fireworks before and they were a brand new invention. Then they went on sale and people behaved exactly as they have this year, every incident still occurred, kids still roamed the streets throwing them around. How long in minutes does anyone really think it would take the government to act … They’d step in hard right away I don’t think there is any doubt, there would be public outrage against fireworks and they’d be banned plain and simple.

This is something we’ve unfortunately learned to tolerate as a country and it’s time to stop.

MRD

very well said :)

welcome to the forum

Hi there,

Thanks very much, I love this place it's an excellent source of info and very friendly.

lol Lindsay i had to laugh........You're so darn right i remember my father bringing a family selection box home and it contained about 8-9 fireworks, 2 puffs and it was over.
Nothing like the fireworks nowadays (and i'm only 29!)

Sarah

Ah, the old family selection box - what fun that was :) Catherine wheel, and dad set up a post for that. A few rockets and those sparklers ...... ;) Pretty harmless fun compared to nowadays, and know what? i am sure we enjoyed the night far more than today's kids who, if they miss the actual Nov. 5th, can see fireworks on the other nights. The easy availabllity has taken so much of the real magic away.

Whistleblower, I'm curious - do you have dogs, and if so what are they? Are they affected at all or do you live miles out in the country or something?!

Lindsay

I have 1 Lurcher pup 1 Cocker and 3 Sprokers + 5 Sprocker puppies + other dogs in for training. All working dogs, not affected by fireworks and I live in the country now but have lived in a Town most of my life.

So they'll be used to shotgun noises etc then? :rolleyes:

My lot aren't bothered by shotguns, crow-scarers, or even the booms from ammunition disposal unit nearby. But the whine and screech of fireworks terrify them.

How about fireworks without the noise?

I also have to agree about the banning of fireworks. We too have them going off day and night in England, they do sound like bombs and make me jump most of the time. My dogs shake terribly especially the eldest who is slightly deaf.....but there hearing is 10 times sensitive than us humans. I have heard there is going to be a ban on the selling of fireworks to public and only allowed at displays...apparently there wasn't enough force this year to make that happen but hopefully there will be next year........more and more people are complaining and signing petitions to stop this.

A friend visited her blind brother a few weeks ago. He lives on an estate with his wife and Ingrid, Lab guide dog. The poor dog was distraught - she couldn't have worked due to being so scared :(

My friend said that living on the estate was like living in a war zone. This is what is has become like in the 21st Century.

Lindsay