Fireworks rant

[Circe2]

Mainly posting this to alleviate my poor partner of my grouchiness/anxiety, and try to channel it into something remotely useful.

The H&H recently posted the results of a Blue Cross survey about the extent of stress and anxiety caused by fireworks to the equine community and our hairy friends. I’ve already heard approximately 6373837373 fireworks go off since sunset, and am of course feeling relatively ill at ease, knowing my boy is out there. He’s normally good with fireworks, but we had some illegal raves in a disused warehouse nearby over the summer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s being used as the latest launch pad (it seemed very popular for that purpose in early November).

I feel like it’s even worse this year, due to lockdown and people not being able to amuse themselves at parties/friends’ houses/clubs etc. Local dog/horse groups on social media have been posting about massive lines of people queuing to buy fireworks - so much for essential travel/shopping/businesses...

I believe the RSPCA are still running their Bang Out of Order campaign, which I think is worth signing (if you haven’t already done so). It just makes me so sad and frustrated, thinking about all the poor horses and cattle out there. And the poor wildlife.

I’m not even some sort of dour party pooper, I just wish fireworks could be purchased by licence only, or at least just be designed to be quieter. Or banned from certain places (like private gardens, fields etc). Or banned on any night that isn’t the specific night of celebration. I don’t even know what the answer is, but I just hate the free for all, how a fireworks night becomes a fireworks week, a fireworks month etc. People just setting them off without care, without warning, with no repercussions for the damage they cause. It’s just so selfish and simply unfair. I’ll get off my soap box!

 

[Circe2]

https://www.rspca.org.uk/documents/...127?version=1.0&t=1571669349793&download=true

Adding a link for the RSPCA campaign’s synopsis

 

[The Xmas Furry]

There have been queues all week outside the local fireworks shop, all allegedly click and collect... Trading standards eventually closed them down at lunchtime today as the on line purchases didnt match sales, there's a surprise....

We've had them going off since 4pm and currently it's like the Somme as non stop.... dog is distraught ?

 

[Auslander]

Im sick to death of them. My dog is petrified, and I have 13 horses who all need checking - it's a nightmare trying to figure out what to do with the dog, while I stumble round n the dark checking the horses.
I got some screenshots off my yard camera - first one is normal night vision, and second is during the apocalyptic firework session just down the road

 

[Circe2]

Im sick to death of them. My dog is petrified, and I have 13 horses who all need checking - it's a nightmare trying to figure out what to do with the dog, while I stumble round n the dark checking the horses.
I got some screenshots off my yard camera - first one is normal night vision, and second is during the apocalyptic firework session just down the road
View attachment 62407
View attachment 62408

Jesus Christ, that looks like a night in Aleppo (no offence to Aleppo)

I just can’t believe this is perfectly legal. There was an article in a popular paper earlier today, discussing the “dampened” NYE celebrations. When one or two people piped up in the comments about their pets/livestock, others had the nerve to suggest ear muffs (??) for pets, some going as far as to say the onus is on the pet owner to ‘make their pet comfortable’ (easy to say, when you don’t even know which day of the week they’ll set them off, how close they’ll be etc), and went as far as saying people shouldn’t keep pets in cities (...as if this doesn’t happen in the suburbs and countryside).

I truly despair

 

[magicmoments]

For those with dogs. Try putting a sock with the toe end cut off over their ears/neck. Needs to be fairly firm, not lose otherwise won't be so effective. It's worked for 2 of my customer's dogs when vet drugs and thunder shirts didn't make much difference.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

They started going off randomly here from about 17.45. Both dogs quivering wrecks. Just get them calmed down and another would go off. Older dog was given diazepam, no effect, younger dog shut in her covered crate where she settles. We ended up staying up till 12.40 with both TV's going full blast, good job our neighbours were away. I HATE (noisy) fireworks.

 

[TigerTail]

FAB firework ban campaign link here. Please sign and share AND follow it up with an email to your Mp, volume of public opinion is the only thing they listen to
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/319891

 

[Red-1]

FAB firework ban campaign link here. Please sign and share AND follow it up with an email to your Mp, volume of public opinion is the only thing they listen to
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/319891

Done.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I've signed more than one of these petitions over the years and written to my MP. Got the usual stock response about the current laws being adequate

 

[Kipper's Dick]

I've signed more than one of these petitions over the years and written to my MP. Got the usual stock response about the current laws being adequate

They think the current laws are adequate . . . Strewth. . . This defies belief, doesn't it?
They obviously don't give a damn about the stress and injury caused to wildlife and people's pets, horses and livestock. Or the on average 127 fires in homes and buildings caused by fireworks each year. Or the fact that thousands of people end up in hospital due to bonfire and fireworks each year. Most of these injuries were at private and family displays.
Perhaps they should visit the Children's Burns Trust website. It is predicted that 500 children will be injured as a result of fireworks; injuries to the eyes, head and hands. Visible scars for life. What were they saying about avoiding pressure on the NHS? The statistics are truly horrifying.
I would usually be the last person to agree with the state curtailing our independence and freedom of choice. But sometimes we need to be protected from the completely selfish and thoughtless actions of others. And they need to be protected from themselves.

 

[doodle]

Randomly there are fireworks going off now.

 

[cumbriamax]

Is it just me or are fireworks bigger, louder and brighter than the ones I remember as a child. There seems to be a trend now to use professional fireworks. They're huge, they land a long way from where they were set off (I've found bits of them lying all over). They must be much more heavy duty these days too, a friend got a new car a few years back and it was dented by neighbours fireworks.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Is it just me or are fireworks bigger, louder and brighter than the ones I remember as a child. There seems to be a trend now to use professional fireworks. They're huge, they land a long way from where they were set off (I've found bits of them lying all over). They must be much more heavy duty these days too, a friend got a new car a few years back and it was dented by neighbours fireworks.

Out of interest, what did your friend do?
Imagine if that rocket had hit a person instead of a car, what damage it could have done.
I would have wanted to beat the shite out of them.

 

[cauda equina]

Apparently Germany banned fireworks this NYE on the grounds that their hospitals have already got enough to do without looking after unnecessarily burned people too

 

[dogatemysalad]

I've always been fairly tolerant about fireworks, despite living in a part of the country where Diwali followed into bonfire night and we had weeks of explosions going off.
However, the fireworks bought by private individuals have become so loud and bright, it's like living in a war zone. Something needs to be done. The distress caused to wildlife, livestock and pets, not to mention sick people has made it unacceptable.
Maybe lazer light shows are the way to go.

 

[cumbriamax]

Out of interest, what did your friend do?
Imagine if that rocket had hit a person instead of a car, what damage it could have done.
I would have wanted to beat the shite out of them.

I think she sorted it out with the neighbours that they would pay for the damage to her car.

I totally agree it could have hit a person or animal. It's completely irresponsible to basically set something alight and not have any care as to where it will end up. I just think people are using bigger more powerful fireworks now and you find them or pieces of them all over. You can

 

[skint1]

You would think in this day and age there would be noiseless fireworks, but I wonder if people would use them even if they were available

 

[stormox]

When I was young fireworks were much smaller - and were condemned for being dangerous!! I am sure they were safer than the big ones today.
Bangers - just went bang.
Jumping Jacks - bangers that jumped along banging
Catherine Wheels- went round and round.
Volcanos.
Etc etc. Nothing as massive as you get today and still fun.

 

[scruffyponies]

The annual organised display right next to my boys didn't happen this year. It's such a relief. They will cope fine with any of the backyard family stuff, but the finale of the big display is beyond ridiculous.

 

[cumbriamax]

When I was young fireworks were much smaller - and were condemned for being dangerous!! I am sure they were safer than the big ones today.
Bangers - just went bang.
Jumping Jacks - bangers that jumped along banging
Catherine Wheels- went round and round.
Volcanos.
Etc etc. Nothing as massive as you get today and still fun.

This is exactly what I was thinking. They didn't land miles away and the ones I remember were basically made of cardboard type stuff. Now I find sharp bits of metal as components lying around.

 

[scats]

Years ago, you only knew the neighbours were having fireworks because you could hear them ‘ooh and ahh’ and when you looked out the window there’d be a little fizzy thing in a plant pot lighting up a corner of their garden with the occasional small ‘pop’.
Now, every one seems to have a full on display going on.

Bring back daft little fizzy ones for gardens, if people must, and make the loud and big ones for organised and licensed displays only.