RSPCA CAMPAIGN - copied from Website (can't do links)

If you feel strongly about the distress fireworks cause pets, wildlife and livestock, then please support our campaign to 'Keep the noise down!'

In a bid to demonstrate to government the terror fireworks cause animals, the RSPCA will be gathering evidence of how animals react to fireworks. Evidence will be gathered for the rest of the year until a week after Bonfire Night to highlight how the new law is failing animals and their owners.

Any pet owner knows how distressing it is to see their pet terrified by fireworks. We don't believe government fully appreciates the distress fireworks cause. This is why, as a last resort, we are asking for video diaries of the distress fireworks cause to animals.

Help us gather evidence
If fireworks go off in your area and you have access to a video camera, you could help us prove once and for all the devastating effects firework noise can have on your pet. We know this is a distressing thing for any pet owner to do, but we feel government must be made aware of the upset these new laws continue to cause. We will not deliberately expose animals to fireworks for their reaction, so we need to turn to pet owners who have the misfortune of their pets being unwillingly exposed to them.

If you would like to take part in producing your own video diary, please follow these helpful guidelines to make sure you do not distress your pet further and you capture the evidence in the most effective way.

Tips for filming

Make sure the camera is fixed, using either a tripod or resting it on a solid surface.
Try to keep your pet in the middle of the frame.
Avoid using the zoom feature, keep the shot as static as possible.
Don't approach your pet too closely as you may add to its distress. Being too close will also affect the sound.
Avoid talking as you are filming your pet. We need your pet's reactions.
After filming your pet's reaction, position yourself in front of the camera and film your reaction.

We will put your experiences together on a video or CD to send to Tony Blair. We may also offer the footage to the media to help highlight our campaign, or use it on the RSPCA website.

Please send your footage to: Julie Briggs, External Affairs, RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, West Sussex
RH13 9RS.

Fireworks on newyears are AWSOME. I agree they shouldnt be used everyday like firecrackers but you can't stop new years celebrations!

Manny --

In the uk we dont just have fireworks for new year though, at least at new year, if people are going to have fireworks they HAVE them on new years eve...

We celebrate (i have no idea why), the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes to blow up the houses of parliament on november the fifth err some years ago (lots, hundreds)..

People dont just let fireworks off on the 5th though. It is usual for fireworks to be going off for at least a couple of weeks preceding and after the actual night.

Fireworks are being let off near my house at all hours of the day and night, being used byu CHILDREN and have been so for the last month, and it will now continue on and off until after new years eve.

WHY do we still need to celebrate the failed actions of what would today be called a terrorist..???

I dont see anyone blowing stuff up every september the 11th! That would be sick, there are loads of failed terrorist attempts, and not so failed ones, we dont commemorate those events by recreating them all around the country!

I think its ridiculous that young children can easily get hold of such unstable explosives as fireworks, when for a stable (albeit far more destructive) explosive requires a licence. You are more likely to blow your hands or face off with a shop bought firework than you are with cemtex!

IF we could predict that fireworks would be let off on set days, in a safe manner by licenced (and thus capable) persons, i could deal iwth the terror my pets suffer.
But here its totally UNpredictable -- just yesterday i saw two boys of not more than 14, throwing fireworks into the road, a busy 40mph road that goes arond the centre of my town!

They need FAR more restrictions -- id far rather go and watch a professionally organised display and pay for it, than see several pathetic fireworks in someones back garden!

Em

Oh yeah i know what you mean , abuncha kids in my neighbourhood make firecrackers and these things are just deafening