The impact of fireworks going off randomly in this country has such a broad impact. We’ve tried to cover some of those impacted by fireworks in our blogs, including some with PTSD, war veterans, those with assistance dogs, as well as the devastating impact on wildlife and the environment. Fireworks – and their increasing and random use, along with an outdated and loose legislation that allows them every day of the year in the UK – are not inclusive and out of date in a modern society that respects the different needs of members of its society. What we’d like to highlight in this blog is the substantial impact on lifestyle and mental health for pet owners – while a few people who randomly set off fireworks ‘have fun’.

According to the RSPCA, fireworks are ‘bang out of order and frighten animals’ and they say that “Fireworks can be a source of fear and distress for many animals – in particular the sudden, loud noises. For example, it is estimated that 45 percent of dogs show signs of fear when they hear fireworks, and a New Zealand survey recorded 79 percent of horses as either anxious or very anxious around fireworks over the Guy Fawkes period. Animals affected not only suffer psychological distress but can also cause themselves injuries – sometimes very serious ones – as they attempt to run or hide from the noise.”

According to the PDSA, 53% of UK adults own a pet. So that’s over half the adult population – 10s of millions, who have pets and are likely impacted in some way. Even if one is lucky enough to have a pet that is not anxious, this can change swiftly if he/she is exposed to fireworks very loudly, suddenly and without their owner present for example. And so for many pet owners, they have to change their lifestyle patterns substantially in the winter months, when fireworks may go off as soon as it is dark. And particularly for the month around Guy Fawkes and Diwali (as, yes it is on-going and no longer just one or two nights), as well as New Year and increasingly, sadly Christmas. Due to the lack of tight legislation in the UK, fireworks can go off any day of the year, without warning – just because someone wants to celebrate a wedding, a birthday, a festival – with fireworks. They have become a nuisance and should be acknowledged so by changes to the law.

Examples of lifestyle impact and how the ‘fun’ of some causes stress for others and restricts their own rights:

• A limitation on their right to walk when they want to: Many dog owners won’t go out after dark, particularly in the months around October/November and Christmas and New Year. One owner reports walking home on Christmas Day one year and almost being pulled over by their dog – as fireworks randomly went off. If you have a nervous dog, they could bolt and you may lose them. Or an anxious one made worse by going off when one randomly goes off. This means it impacts visiting friends, going out etc as well as the right to walk when you want to – and is extremely restrictive
• Many can’t go out while those letting off fireworks can: Most pet owners need to stay indoors to comfort their pets. This applies also to pets not distressed, as they can become so if left alone. Owners have to do a whole series of things, such as closing curtains, letting the dog out before the fireworks go off, providing any medication that might help, putting on calming coats etc, as well as loud or calm music. This goes on night after night, week after week. And it often impacts new year plans, general social engagements but also important events such as visiting a sick relative. One is torn between caring for the pet and for a loved one
• Simple events become stressful: Trying to work out when it is safe to let your pet out pre going to bed is incredibly difficult. Again, the random nature of fireworks use in the UK means no time is safe once it is dark. Even if you have a pet that is OK with them, if you let them off when a neighbour lets off a firework in their garden, you could well end up with a continually distressed pet, or one that bolts and injures themselves. One small charity this year posted on Facebook, asking people to update their dogs’ microchips. They alone – one small charity had 15 dogs come into them during fireworks last year, due to them bolting out of fear
• A whole list of things are bought to try to ease the pet’s distress: A lot of money is spent on things like calming tablets, actual medication from vets, thunder jackets, diffuser sprays, collars. For pet owners, seeing your pet in such obvious distress is heartbreaking and they will do anything to try to help. But these come at a cost
• Some owners watch on-going distress and behavioural impact: I remember speaking to a neighbour whose dog was so scared during and after fireworks, that she wouldn’t go out to do her business. This meant sadly, that the owner had nights and nights around the time – and for a long time after, when they had to clear up continually after their pet. For many owners, it is incredibly distressing, having to watch your pet absolutely trembling in fear – and having tried everything being unable to do anything about it. It is absolutely devastating to watch.

All of these have an emotional and mental health impact on owners.

• Distress: It is heartbreaking and distressing for an owner to see their pet, despite best efforts, trembling, hiding, running upstairs, or even bolting and getting lost. The distress to an owner is immense. And is definitely not ‘fun’. And we are talking about this happening for millions of people up and down the country, for weeks and months on end
• Death of pet: For some owners, they have had to suffer the distress of losing their pet. Many pets die each year, from heart attacks due to the anguish, or from bolting and running into something. This is devastating for an owner, particularly as it is unnecessary
• Anxiety: For many owners, the whole period becomes a very anxious time. The stress of seeing a loved one in distress, having to prepare, cancel or balance out plans… Plus, if one is already living with a mental health or other condition, this can exacerbate and make things dreadful
• Isolation and loneliness: Needing to stay home to keep their pets safe can for some, feel isolating and so the ‘fun’ of others can actually cause loneliness and isolation for many

The question here, is why are the needs of such a broad percentage of the population ignored, at the expense of the few who want to randomly let them off in their gardens? Why does our government continually chant that the rules don’t need changing, when clearly millions of people are adversely affected? And they sign petitions, write to their MPs and demand change.

If you want to bring about change, you aren’t the only one.

• Sign and share petitions. This is a recent one for 2023.
• Share this blog in every group you are in on social media and in emails – particularly those not related to fireworks, to reach new audiences
• There have been 5 debates, 6 petitions with over 100,000 signatures each, a Petitions Committee inquiry and the Government needs to listen. Now is the time to write to your MP and ask them to push the Government to take drastic action. Reduce the number of days to just a handful a year and ban the sale to the public. Or you can use the RSPCA template
• Write to your councils asking them to change what they allow. 
• Ask your friends and neighbours not to let fireworks off or if they insist to, at least use low noise fireworks which are available from most firework suppliers
• Read and share more blogs on the impact of fireworks and share these too: Environmental impact, impact on war veterans and sufferers of PTSD and on assistance dogs, how even Christmas is no longer a time of peace and why fireworks are a nuisance and the law should change.