Fireworks at New Year

Increasingly popular, but please spare a thought for pets and other animals before joining the hoardes who will let off fireworks to celebrate New Year..

My heart breaks daily over the loss of my beloved little dog Remy who died in August this year I cannot yet speak about him without becoming overcome with grief and yet I feel relief that he will not be suffering the horror and fear of fireworks anymore.

From the first bang in October he would slowly descend into a bag of nerves that trembled and shook at every loud noise and it was mid January before he returned to his normal self.

Last year I wrote about how it affected him and what it was like for him. Just reading it again makes me cry remembering just how terrified he was and how helpless we were to stop it, thunder shirts , pills, CD's with noise etc etc nothing eased the fear ..


Shell shock.
As another explosion rang out overhead he pressed his body to the floor shaking in fear, his hidey hole was warm and snug but that didn’t keep out the noise of the explosions or the vibrations that quivered through the building.
He knew he couldn’t stay here forever but were else was there? Outside it was worse, out there it wasn’t just the noise. Out there were the smells of the gunpowder that stung his nostrils and made his eyes water.
The flashes of light went off all around and preceded each new barrage of explosions by just a millisecond, not enough to take cover but just enough to make him tense every muscle in fear as he stood paralysed expecting every explosion to be the one that hit him..
His heart pounded so hard he could hear it beat and it felt as if it was going to burst out through his ribs at any moment. He tried to breathe normally but as his body filled with terror that became impossible. The combination of shallow panic stricken breaths and his wild heart beat made him feel sick and dizzy but he knew he had to keep going and find a safe place, a nice dark place away from the noise and flashes that the explosions bought. He pressed himself against walls and hedgerows hoping to find some shelter or a place to hide but it was impossible.
After he had survived the first year he thought he would be ok and that it was all behind him but he was wrong. Year after year the explosions came and each time his fear was compounded getting just a little worse each time. He really had no idea how much more of this he could take. Then as yet another explosion filled the air above his head he felt the warm wet pool of urine form around his feet... He looked up..
I’m so sorry I just couldn’t help it.. his eyes said.

Remy aged 9 ...shell shocked by fireworks

All on Dogsey would like to see fireworks banned from all year round sale and limited to organised one day displays in November.
I had a Bernese that was terrified of fireworks and thunder and can relate to how you feel.

Dorrit - What a truly awful thing it must have been for your little one, now free from fear and the terror of the noise and smell. My thoughts are certainly with you.
I am not a great one for the "nanny state" as they call government intervention in our private lives. However, there is surely a case for a complete ban on fireworks and as Lynn so rightly posted a restriction of their use to organised displays only.
I do so hope the forthcoming New Year brings better things for you. G.

I think it would be better if the bangers were banned. That way, those that liked them could still enjoy the coloured effects, and sensitive animals could be more easily protected..

Dorrit - I feel for you, I don't like these fireworks. All animals must be worried and some very frightened. They don't know what's going on and as Lynn says it really ought to be a one off, controlled event. It sounds as if your poor little dog was really badly effected but he's at peace now.

Rocky hated them too - but only after we got caught walking through a narrow street just behind the football pitch where they decided to have their display a day early!!! It was like a war zone

We used loud music to help him after that, and it is definitely something I would incorporate into socialisation next time I got a dog.

I think they should be banned too - they are also not good for the environment.

It's a tricky one, I like fireworks and get free displays every year from the neighbours, my dogs like fireworks too, they stand out there looking at them for ages. The only thing missing is the oooh's and ahhhh's. I've never had a dog that's scared of fireworks either so have no personal experience of it. I don't want them banned but would be happy for them to be used only between specific dates. Here they are used all year round as lots of weddings etc incorporate firework displays these days and we have venue's within hearing distance.

Dorrit, that made me cry, poor little thing.
My sons Collie is the same nothing pacifies or reassures her. Luckily I have never had a dog who was nervous of fireworks but I feel for those that do.

I must admit there is one firework show I go to each year which is held in a nearby town. Its organised and set off by professionals and it is very safe.
Everyone knows exactly when it will take place and how long it will last.

Id like fireworks taken out of public hands at the very least. The fact that they seem to be let off at the drop of a hat these days means there is no way to plan for an event if you have a frightend pet.

My old dog Max loved to peer out the windows at them and even my BC Oscar had no fear of them but Remy was terrified and even the vet ran out of idea because there was no way we could sedate him for 2 or 3 months and that was the only thing that really worked.

New year is an event which I grow to hate a little more each year as the use of fireworks grow.

Fireworks have got much louder too, these days lots of them sound like canons.