A bill to restrict the sale and use of fireworks to specific times of the year and hours of the day,has just had its second reading in the house of commons. It will also tighten controls at public display's.

Lets hope the final regulations are sufficient enough to curb the problem.

Now whats this I hear about a company making silent fireworks?

I really do hope so Leigh. My cats (havent had the mutt long enough to know his reaction!) hate them. And they go on for months around here. Also when I lived by the Thames in Westminster they go off all the time on the boats. So I hope they do ban them properly. As regards silent ones - I cant see the kids going to buy them (or their parents) can you?
Regards Gina

I would - buy the silent ones that is.:D

I feel like the rest of you and would like them banned. My dogs ( well some of them) really stress badly and need sedating. However, they are part of our British tradition, so I think the ideal solution would be for me at least...no fireworks to be sold to the public. Public displays ONLY on the 5th Nov, so at least our animals would only have one night of it, and we would know to prepare in advance.

Yes that is what I want .. organised events no selling to the public - Gina

Trouble is, every time a firework goes off "The Flower" goes off looking for a Pheasant!

John

My springer loves them too. She sits in her run gazing skywards, then whines and squeaks when they finish.

All my GSP's loved them until they got old Dave. Then it made no difference at all that they had been shot over all their lives

My Labrador dosen't mind fireworks but my Border Collie hates them.

With the BC it is the hissing noise he hates more than the bang itself.

Kaz

What happened when they got 'old Dave'? :D

I agree with Phillipa & Gina.
No selling of fireworks to general public & organised displays
only in November 5th.

Arn't they banned in some foreign countries ? Australia
and in some US states.

Pam - who has one hound that goes frantic / panics.

I too would like to see them banned for sale to the public, I was only responding to the bit that no one would buy silent ones. We don't buy them now but go to an organised display, we have to pick one that is no where near the likely time people will be letting off fireworks of their own.

On New Years Eve 1999 I was deeply worried my dog was going to have a heart attack, and this is not just being flip he really was scared out of his mind

I would like to see a total ban on the selling of fireworks. Organised displays only please and only on 5th November not the Saturday before or the Saturday after AND organised displays to choose suitable venues ie not next to rabbit warrens and so on.

I'm hard to please I know

I hate fireworks so does my cats and Molly. My family BC who is very old now hides under mum's bed and shakes.

They are a waste of money and scare the life out of our pets? I would not be sad if they were withdrawn?

Julieann

Yes Pam certainly where my sister lives in California the general public are not permitted to buy or set off fireworks of any description.

Only licensed events are allowed to have them and fire them off at specific events with a license being issued for each occassion as far as I am aware.

Every state is different. Mine only sells the sparklers. Public displays of the big loud ones. But they get around it by bringing them in from other states. Every year you hear about someone blowing their hand off.

We have had numerous dogs in the past all afriad of fireworks
when it was only around Nov5th it was not too bad we used to just shut them,
in a room with loud music to dull the sound
now-days they go off for about a month at a time:(
We had a heinz 57 that could smell them & went berserk to the extent of escaping
through an upstairs window that he opened.
he also became scared of any other bang's after that (toy guns, balloons, crisp bags etc)
made his life a misery with 2 young children
We would like to see a ban on the sale to the public & only events on Nov5th

Karl & Jane anti- fireworks

I am lucky all my dogs have been impervious to fire works .. my old boy (now deceased) would stand and watch them with great interest .. though people used to call me for walking them on November 5th (they didn't know my dogs didn't give me a choice!). However, I hate them .. so yes please lets control them.

My hounds find fireworks like thunder a good excuse to have a good bark and are not at all frightened. But do think that they are abused, fireworks that is, and a lot of people and animals find them distressing, if not terrifying, and would welcome their control. Can't help thinking that it is a bit like laws controling dogs though, most of us love our dogs/fireworks and make sure our pleasure does not harm or affect others who do not share our entheusiasam for our dogs/fireworks or whatever. Like other laws it is the few who put restrictions on the rest because they will not accept their responsiblity for the care and peace of others in their society. Jackie H