Fireworks advice for pet owners from Honeybourne Vets

“daniboy72
"At the very least, let's get the environmental protection people doing something useful with their absurd decibel-counters. Let them roam the residential streets in all weathers between 2300 and 0400 every night from now until, say, April. Whenever they hear a rocket explode, let them take action as draconian as they have taken against poultry-owners."

Whhhattt!! They work nine to five very good value for money.............NOT!!”

“Hear hear, @Gallopingbear. The precautions advised above are fine for Guy Fawkes day or even, if we must, for the festival of licensed mugging which is American-style Halloween. We can exercise our animals, ensure in advance that they are placed in the right space and do all that we can to minimise the shocks caused by fireworks.

Alas, in keeping with the ever-growing loutishness and egocentricity of the urban middle-classes, householders elect to let off fireworks nigh all year round without warning their neighbours and without the slightest obvious reason (their firework displays are paltry, stertorous and tawdry) save the desire, like those cerebrally challenged drivers at traffic-lights who feel that we should all share their crass taste in music, to mark their territories with cacophony.

Apart from the undesirable noise which disturbs residents including the old and sick and traumatises their pets, it is at unofficial fireworks parties like this that the huge majority of expensive and disfiguring accidents take place.

The Council's notoriously inept environmental protection department is quick to condemn to premature death cocks which crow in the morning (but strangely not verminous gulls which spread disease and make a filthy row) and to hush music at occasional revelries such as the Midsummer Fiesta, but I have yet to hear of a prosecution of these thugs who let off fireworks in the depths of night.

Why, pray, is there not one magnificent Cheltenham bonfire party, organised and financed under the Council's aegis in one of the parks?

This would not only generate goodwill, engage hard-to-reach communities, foster the town's identity and provide a traditional, safe, magical experience for families which cannot afford their own fireworks. It would also mean that the selfish thugs who pollute our streets with the sounds of their own paltry pyrotechnics without prior written warning could be sneered at, evicted, refused jobs, parking permits and sexual favours, pelted with garbage, burned in effigy at next year's fireworks display and generally ostracised in all the manners proper and traditional in a well-ordered society. They should, after all, be donating the cost of their sad, selfish little entertainments to the grand one in which everyone can share.

At the very least, let's get the environmental protection people doing something useful with their absurd decibel-counters. Let them roam the residential streets in all weathers between 2300 and 0400 every night from now until, say, April. Whenever they hear a rocket explode, let them take action as draconian as they have taken against poultry-owners.

These supposed revellers who think that others should suffer for their jollies are simply vandals and pollutants. They occasion untold distress to humans and animals alike.”

“It is awful for animals when they have to put up with firworks not just on bonfire night, but for days either side of it. I have had a dog who used to shake and bark constantly at them, and have had many other animals who couldn't care less. I think having a 'pack' helps. When my bunch are together nothing really phazes them, but the earlier dog who hated fireworks was an only pet.”

“Not all pets react that way Pifaw, unfortunately. I have two very different breeds and both go absolutely scatty. The only way I can calm them is to put on saving private Ryan as the first half hour is all about loud explosions and they then don't take any notice of the real ones outside.”

“I think the pet owners play a large part in how animals react to fireworks. I had a dog and three cats, all from when they were a puppy and kittens and the first time they heard fireworks I spoke to them in a quiet voice and told them not to worry and fussed them a short while and they settled down. After that first time when fireworks started going off they would just look at the window and then ignore them.”