Enjoy bonfire night but think of the animals!

[Peter]

Perhaps it is one of the advantages of having a gundog breed, but mine does not deign to notice fireworks and would cheerfully attend a display if allowed.

Never been shooting with her, she is just laid back about bangs.

Mother in laws rope rat on the other hand has hysterics, but he barks at aeroplanes and I think enjoys the attention.

[SarzWix]

My German Shepherd, Paddy, is completely unbothered by the bangs, and has been to organised displays with us a couple of times. She's happy anywhere I am, especially if she has a chew shoe to keep her busy while we're just 'standing around'!
I, on the other hand, am completely fed up with fireworks, and the way they're being dragged out for any tiny occasion anyone can think of. Most especially p-ed off with whichever doylems buy them, then allow their doylem offspring to chuck them round the streets

[Snadger]

Mine chases helicopters!

[Flummery]

Caught any?

[Snadger]

Caught any?

Not for the want of trying Flum!

I live two miles from Newcastle International Airport so we see quite a few helicopters. If we're on the field she tries to run after them jumping up and down and barking as if to say " Come on then, land if you dare and a'll ave ya"(She's a Geordie dog of course so she taarks proppa englush!)

If she's at home, which is an upper storey flat, she runs from room to room, window to window telling them off for coming anywear near!:eek

[Waffler]

I think fireworks should be banned, or severely restricted. Don't get me wrong - I think they're very pretty (though they'd be better without the sound-effects!) but I think they're hideously over-priced, not very good for the environment and affect an awful lot of animals in a negative way. I am always reminded at this time of year of a story which made the news a few years back near us: a cat had a firework tied to it's tail and basically burnt to death as it streaked along the road as a feline fireball. It sickens me to think about it now - there are some evil people out there who really shouldn't be allowed anywhere near fireworks. Maybe fireworks should be restricted to organised displays and certainly only for a short period of the year. It strikes me as it all went Pete Tong when we had all the fireworks for the Millennium; it seems they've been far easier to get hold of since then for all manner of 'celebrations.'

[Two_Sheds]

Firewords are explosives, ie weapons.
I don't understand why they are so freely and so cheaply available. I am increasingly concerned about cheap Chinese imports too, the safety of mostly (Mattel are recalling thousands of Chinese toys because of safety fears, lead poisoning)
What if these cheap fireworks are badly made? Go off in your hand? Fire backwards into a crowd?
Hideous things.

[Flummery]

I was rather shocked to see tesco offering 2 for 1 on fireworks. There will be more than ever this year!

[SarzWix]

I was rather shocked to see tesco offering 2 for 1 on fireworks. There will be more than ever this year!

All the supermarkets seem to have ridculous offers on fireworks at the mo - my local Co-op does, and Morrisons & Asda in town do too. I did see the lady on the counter in Morri's checking someone's age, and refusing to sell them when they had no ID, so at least they're sticking to the rules in that respect. I really think they need to be licensed or something though, so that people can buy them for private use, but have to pass a safety test or something first. TwoSheds is right, they're a weapon in the wrong hands.

[terrier]

Mine chases helicopters!

I heard that Irish Wolfhounds chase parked cars!

My first dog, a Lab, would sit down by the side of the road when a car went past (I you'st to let him walk off lead down quiet back country lanes). One day a helicopter flew overhead. Ben Lab sat by the hedge and waited...and waited...and waited...

If I wantd to buy explosives other than fireworks, I would have to have a license obtained from the police. I would have to give good reason for wanting to buy them,i.e. shotgun carts, and I would have to keep them in a locked container where they would be safe. I would also have to certify that I did not have any mental illness that could cause me to misuse the explosives. Considering that a lot of modern fireworks are classed as high explosive, I think it's about time the law was brought up to date. I don't even want to think about the effect it's going to have on our dogs.

[Peter]

Twosheds, I live in hope that all the idiots, especially the animal torturors, try what the one on this link did. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/6132140.stm

[terrier]

I guess that's the mental illness I mentioned!

[Snadger]

If I wantd to buy explosives other than fireworks, I would have to have a license obtained from the police. I would have to give good reason for wanting to buy them,i.e. shotgun carts, and I would have to keep them in a locked container where they would be safe. I would also have to certify that I did not have any mental illness that could cause me to misuse the explosives. Considering that a lot of modern fireworks are classed as high explosive, I think it's about time the law was brought up to date. I don't even want to think about the effect it's going to have on our dogs.

Very good poitnt, terrier. You would also need the police to check your background (CRB check?) for the slightest misdemeanor of you, your family or associates!

[Two_Sheds]

If anyone is inclined to lobby their MP about this issue, here's a good website (its free)
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/
just email a letter to your MP, if you're not sure who that is, the site will tell you

[Paulottie]

Oh for goodness sake do we have to ban everything?

I am just as grumpy about eejits with cheap fireworks as the next man, and I would love to see bonfire night return to the 5th Nov.ONLY ....for instance, my sister in law is a vet who must spend a fortnight a year tranquillizing horses on night call (that is AFTER a days work). Perhaps public sale fireworks could be decibel limited? BUT I fail to see that, as a responsiblish citizen, why I can't burn a few hedge clippings and have a couple of Catherine wheels for the kids at the bottom of my own garden should I so wish.

I am so bored of this government's prohibition policies...maybe we should stop celebrating it because Guido Fawkes was right after all....Blow the place up

(doorbell rings) that must be the thought Police now to arrest me for incitement to cause explosion.