Enjoy bonfire night but think of the animals!

[Snadger]

I know I am probably preaching to the converted but:-

A cautionary tale

I have just spoken to a work colleague who has been up all night because her dog absconded. Her OH was walking the dog on the common when a firework exploded causing the dog to bolt. Her OH and her were out for 3hrs looking for it to no avail. She went home and kipped sporadically on the settee.

At 4.00am in the morning she got a phone call from Newcastle Airport saying they had found her dog wandering very distressed on the runway!

Luckily the dog had a tag on her with contact phone number etc on it!

The dog is back home and seems to be non the worse for its 6 mile jaunt!

If my dog goes out this evening it will be on a lead and I urge anyone with animals to either keep them in or on a lead and hope that everyone enjoys there bonfire night!

Have an enjoyable and safe November 5th !!!!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Absolutely Snadger! We had lots of fireworks around here last night and Dexter was kept on his lead, even just being put in and out of the car. It's not worth it - one loud firework and it could spook your dog and they would be off! Have a safe night everyone! DDL

[martini]

Lots of fireworks around here last night - our pooch 'Woody' (a five year old Yorkie) spent the night on my lap (even whilst on the computer!

[bramble]

Here in Ireland we don't celebrate Guy Falks night so no fireworks tonight. We have the lot on Halloween.

[ugly gourd]

Well its 5 oclock on bonfire night weve been to the new people at the back of us who are having a party and made sure they have noticed our thatch feel better now as one of the guests is an exfireman and now OH whos a retained fireman has gone on his first shout Sorry but I dont like bonfire night

[dexterdoglancashire]

Have a good night everyone! Going to an organised display. Dexter the dog is with his Aunty Margaret tonight. Bless! Have a safe and enjoyable evening all - pets included. DDL

[Mrs Dobby]

We will be staying in with Bella again, as we did last night! Actually she was much better last night than she was all week, curled up at my feet and went to sleep, seemed a lot calmer with all the bangs than she had been all week, perhaps she is becoming a little desensitized! Hopefully it should die down a bit after tonight!

[Snadger]

You know...Standing looking into the embers of my bonfire tonight, I got to thinking...Whatever happened to The Mattrass Man!!!! Cue Jaws music!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! !!!! !!!!

[rustylady]

It wouldn't be so bad if it was only one night. Fireworks now seem to go on and on and on. Any excuse, summer parties, barbies, halloween, and bonfire night. We've been hearing them here for a week now, and tonight again.

I'm not a killjoy, but I really think it would be better if there were organised displays only - stop selling fireworks to the general public. Not only would the animals be happier, hopefully there would be far fewer tragic accidents.

[Squirrel]

I live in a rural part, so not too many fireworks around. The farm I live on is also a shooting estate as are several on either side of us. Consequently the dog thinks that we crazy humans are just shooting off guns again! Storm is perfectly calm and doing the dog 'stuff' that she always does. I really feel for those of you who have problem with fireworks - if only people would be more sensible and considerate!

Do hope your OH doesn't have to many call outs tonight UglyGourd. My son was a firefighter (before he started driving trucks) so I have an inckling (sp?) of how it is for you.

Keep safe people!

[lyndap]

I wish they would ban sales of fire works to the public,then anyone who wished to enjoy them would have to go to properly organised displays.We get idiots letting them off down the middle of the road even before dark some days.We have pensioners bunglows at the end off the road and behind us and I know some of the pensioners are scared of fireworks being put through letter boxes!(They tape them up)BAN THE FLIPPIN THINGS.

[Earthbabe]

Around here it starts in earnest with Diwali and Eid and continues for about three weeks. Then if we get a new cruise ship we start all over again. When the Legend of the Seas was in just before her maiden cruise we had fireworks on the docks every night for five nights. I really feel for those with dogs and cats and there are a number of them in our street.

[Alison]

Went to a firework party last night, only had a few low key fireworks as there were young children there but couldn't believe it that the next door neighbours had left their dog in the garden and gone out. Several of us were on the verge of calling the RSPCA until the neighbours turned up and let the dog in - think relations with the neighbours may be a bit tense after the mouthful they got but really you shouldn't be allowed to have animals if you're so irresponsible.

[bramble]

The sale of fire works are banned here but people go to northern Ireland and bring them back anyway.

[Two_Sheds]

Time for a ban?

The firebangs are going off here tonight already. In fact, the first ones went off on about 2nd October.
There is no warning, and no chance to get your pets indoors. the dog next door is going mental.
I'd be all for a total ban actually, or failing that, sales to be restricted to 30 Oct - 5 November.