Pets and fireworks don't mix

bunnykins · 03-11-2007, 18:52

iv just had to go and move my rabbit hutch into the garage thanks to my ignorant neighbours,they decided to hold a massive firework display in there garden whilst filling my garden with smoke,as molly has a bad chest she's coughing and weezing like hell.thankyou gggrrrrrr rant over sorry

if you are having a firework/bonfire and your neighbours have animals please be curtius and let them know,thanks

sezbetz · 03-11-2007, 18:59

I must have odd bunnies as nearly all of them are out watching!!

It is my two year old who wont go to bbed because she 'no like the bang lights mummy'!

MARY POPPINS · 03-11-2007, 19:22

Well I'm sat here with one very very upset Barney on my knee he's petrified.
But his mum Ellie is fast asleep snoring, not bothered at all,
poor Barney just wont go on the floor,
and I suppose its going to be like this now for months.

katkin · 03-11-2007, 19:53

Not so bad a problem with Ailsa, she was used to them from an early age- just barks when she goes out in the yard to pee. Most of the cats are OK, dont seem to show distress although our old girl Minty has always always been terrified of them, poor baby. It's the foster-cat in the cat pen I worry most about. Its pretty secure and she's in her cat cabin, but the noise out there must be deafening. I wish we could dissuade the supermarkets from selling fireworks and all the other bonfire and halloween crap they fill their shelves with nowadays - Ok I'm a killjoy but Ive never liked them. Dont mind the bonfires so much but hate it that from now until well into the new year we have to put up with nightime in beirut every bl**dy night.

To anyone who's pets are suffering - it should all shut up by 3am!

Lotti · 03-11-2007, 20:20

Well Takara was upset earlier, she won't go out in the garden and wanted to sit on the sofa, she was so frightened that she growled at me when I moved her.

I did let her back up on the sofa (where she's not normally allowed) just because she's better settled there and at least if fireworks mean comfy sofa she might not be so upset.

She's now fast asleep on the sofa, dreaming of eating something (I can tell as she's chomping!) so is none the wiser.

Eddy's not a happy bunny, he went for a wee and they went off (bear in mind these have been going off since about 7pm!), he's been laid in his bed quivering but won't come in the lounge with me - he'd rather cuddle up in the corner on his own so I've left him to it, he knows where I am if he needs me (he sat with me the other day through them). Nothing usually phases him but fireworks do - maybe its his rural upbringing, he lived on a farm before we got him and perhaps nobody really bothered with fireworks nearby?

The cats are completely oblivious and non plussed! Experienced old codgers that they are!

I really, really dislike fireworks - I'm afraid I just can't understand why despite all the accidents, injuries, fear and disruption they cause, they're still available for the public to buy.

shullie · 03-11-2007, 20:42

Shea is scared, she won't go out, she pops her head round the door and then runs back into the lounge.... she won't even go for pee...

we hoping it quitens down soon so we can walk her, ...

It's out wedding aniversary tonight- but we knew we couldn't leave her...she's our baby

xxx

gempud · 03-11-2007, 22:03

I must be lucky - Lilly isn't too bothered. She had a bark and a growl at the noises earlier on but now she's got used to them she isn't bothered. We even managed a 20 minute walk outside mid evening and there were tons going off then and she couldn't have cared less. The kitten isn't bothered at all - he may as well be deaf, he shows no reaction to them

sooz22 · 04-11-2007, 01:14

Poppy has wet her self in fright, she shakes and hyperventilates

and some of the bunnies have started thumping.

I hope Mollys chest isn't too bad bunnykins.

Adz · 04-11-2007, 08:34

Well my 2 had some serenum, telly turned up loud and they seemed ok. Our big dog was a quivering wreck last year it was awful for him but this year we have our little old girl and she seems to soothe and keep him calm. He has generally been fine this year just jumping occasionally i cannot believe the calming effect our old girl is having on him it is so sweet.

Plain Talker · 04-11-2007, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by sooz22

Poppy has wet her self in fright, she shakes and hyperventilates

and some of the bunnies have started thumping.

I hope Mollys chest isn't too bad bunnykins.

But of course, we who detest fireworks are wrong for wanting our pets "not" to be terrified out of their wits. (And also wrong for expecting to sleep at a reasonable hour!)

Why should we wicked, horrible, caring people deprive the eejits and knuckle-draggers of playing their game of "duh, look, we can pretend we're in beirut" mortar-attacks from the airbomb repeater-thingies, at two o'clock in the stinking morning.

bunnykins · 04-11-2007, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by sooz22

Poppy has wet her self in fright, she shakes and hyperventilates

and some of the bunnies have started thumping.

I hope Mollys chest isn't too bad bunnykins.

she seems ok today,she's running around the garden chasing coco,thanks lol

Mr H · 04-11-2007, 11:17

I have to admitt I have mixed feelings about fireworks.

I currently have a cat and he his a great little guy. Last night with the fireworks he was terrified and I did moan to my girlfriend about how unfair it was that people still insisted on having fireworks when all the surrounding local pets are so scared.

However, some of the best memories I have of my family are when we all got together for bon fire night. My parents were very responsible, we had a bonfire, food, and we probably had enough fireworks to set one off every 10 mins over a couple of hours (also the fireworks were finished by 10:30pm). We had an absolutley great time and it was without doubt a great bonding experience. We did try one year going to an organised event but it is never the same.

So I do have mixed opinions on the subject. The responsible pet owner in me would love to see fireworks banned on a domestive level but there is another side that would hate to see the fun and family bonding experience (which is in short supply these days) not being allowed for those thousands of responsible people in the UK.

Lotti · 04-11-2007, 13:02

Mr H, I see what you mean, as I'm the same - I remember standing outside with my family.

Our fireworks only lasted for around half an hour and there were some great times but it wasn't really the fireworks I wanted to see... it was being with my family and we could've done anything really.

Also, if families go together to these displays like the one at Rother Valley, they stick together and its still a bonding exercise - we went one year and had toffee apples and Dad put me on his shoulders to see - and that was special without having to do it at home.

Last night the fireworks were going off from 7pm to well after midnight - non stop. That's just not fair.

I thought that they were illegal after 11pm apart from New Years and the 5th November?

slimsid2000 · 04-11-2007, 13:11

Dogs and cats, puppies and kittens - and not forgeting those rabbits. How have your pets been coping this bonfire weekend?

Moonbird · 04-11-2007, 13:15

I was really lucky only one of my cats is really scared, but its a major operation in my house on bonfire night, rabbits come in, guinea pigs came in too but they are in for the winter now, its a real job catching 4 cats when they want to stay out

I really have no problem with bonfire night if that was all it was...one night but round here its bonfire month

I like fireworks too, but I detest the "bombs" that are bought now, I'm sure there is no need for that much noise, if they would ban them I would be happy!

Lotti · 04-11-2007, 13:24

Moonbird, I thought they were blowing student houses up on our road last night...

But no, this morning they're all still standing so it must have been the "bombs" the idiots buy nowadays.

(I'm 19, how sad is that?!?!?!)

daewoo · 04-11-2007, 14:16

hi our 10 yr old boxer loves to stand out side with us and watch them with us if he cant get outside when they r going off he starts barking till we let him out.

Mr H · 04-11-2007, 16:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lotti

Last night the fireworks were going off from 7pm to well after midnight - non stop. That's just not fair.

I agree that this is totally wrong.

Before I say my next comment I just want to confirm that I totally know where people who are against fireworks are coming from and there is a part of me that totally agrees. Next year I'm hoping to get a dog and I will lynch any of my neighbours if they take the '****' and set fireworks off all night and potentially scare my pup.

However, for all of you who are calling for fireworks to be banned because it upsets your pets, I think you should think about how others feel about your pet.

What I mean by this is because I am thinking about getting a dog, I have spoken to many people to get advice. But what has surprised me is how many people hate dogs. I have spoken to countless people who hate going to a park and having dogs sniff around them, or run past them. They hate walking past a dog when it is on a lead and an owner has to hold the dog back because it probably wants to say hello.

Sadly there are people out there who would stop at nothing to ban dogs from parks (probably using the 'safety' of their children as the main reason). And again, I kinda understand some of their views (I certainly don't agree with them), if somebody is genuinely scared/dislikes dogs then they may feel it is unfair to go to a park and possibly deal with a friendly dog coming up. It is irrelevant if the dog is friendly or not, if they do not want to be around them that’s their choice. I do not have the right to tell someone if they should or shouldn't like dogs.

So, if dogs do cause upset to others then are they right to bring in a ban to stop them from going in our city parks…..of course not its ridiculous. So are we right to insist that fireworks get banned on the grounds it upsets our animals....as much as I would love to I don't think that is fair.

However to finish off, I would like to acknowledge that there is a problem with fireworks as people seem to set them off for weeks and at totally inappropriate times.

Plain Talker · 04-11-2007, 17:35

but, I hate spiders, Mr H, with a vengeance. I absolutely detest the things.

however, I wouldn't deny anyone the right to have a pet spider, and for that spider to live in safety, and not to be subjected to fear...

and as terrified as I am of spiders, I would not want to harm one, or see one come to harm.

So, just because someone is a dog/cat(/ both) hater, that doesn't mean that an animal should be harmed, or be terrified.

Mr H · 04-11-2007, 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plain Talker

but, I hate spiders, Mr H, with a vengeance. I absolutely detest the things.

however, I wouldn't deny anyone the right to have a pet spider, and for that spider to live in safety, and not to be subjected to fear...

and as terrified as I am of spiders, I would not want to harm one, or see one come to harm.

So, just because someone is a dog/cat(/ both) hater, that doesn't mean that an animal should be harmed, or be terrified.

So using your arguement then if taking your pet dog to the park could terrify other human beings then surely that should be banned too. I've heard about kids who start crying as soon as they see a dog so therefore there parents have just cause to ask for a ban in areas that children could play.

I think the point I am trying to make (obviously not very well

) is I don't think we can go around and just automatically say we want things banned just because one group of people don't like it.