Time to ban fireworks?

[DVB Cornwall]

Pets...

It's another aspect of ownership that should be considered when acquiring the cat, dog or boa-constrictor. Pacifying the animal is up to the owner to deal with.

[stu]

I've heard about three this week, but then I do live in the middle of nowhere and the few people here seem old fashioned, so they might as well be banned here!

[Mr Q]

Pets...

It's another aspect of ownership that should be considered when acquiring the cat, dog or boa-constrictor. Pacifying the animal is up to the owner to deal with.

While I don't disagree with that, I don't wholeheartedly agree with it either. The point is that letting off fireworks imposes costs on third parties - neighbours with their pets, for instance, who are disturbed by the explosions outside their door. In the absence of those fireworks, they would not face that disturbance - the cost would not be imposed on them.

Equally, of course, banning fireworks imposes a cost on those people who derive enjoyment from setting them off. If we seek to protect the interests of the neighbours (and their pets) by minimising the disturbance to them, this prevents others from doing what they want as well. These sorts of external effects are inherently reciprocal in nature.

From a policy perspective, the question in this case should simply be who faces the greater inconvenience (cost): the neighbour if fireworks are allowed, or the person wanting to set off fireworks if they are banned?

[timgraham]

I think the Australian method works well..ban it everywhere except Canberra.

Thus they're available but nobody can get to them.

[Stuart*]

Pets...

It's another aspect of ownership that should be considered when acquiring the cat, dog or boa-constrictor. Pacifying the animal is up to the owner to deal with.

All animals are affected by fireworks, not just domestic pets. Nobody is around to pacify those in the wild.

Sedating dogs, cats etc can be expensive and also quite dangerous for older pets. I don't see why I should have that additional expense, or my dog the risk, simply because somebody wants to let off small explosions in their back garden rather than go to an organised event.

I haven't been able to go out on New Year's Eve for 10 years because from 7pm to 1am I am clearing up all the piss and shit that my dog leaves because he's absolutely terrified. What's simply a loud bang to humans sounds like a nuclear explosion to dogs.

[ashley b]

What's simply a loud bang to humans sounds like a nuclear explosion to dogs.

Which gets me wondering. What does a nuclear explosion sound like to dogs?

[Gavin Scott]

Well I'd be more sympathetic to those with pets if I thought they took into consideration that I don't want their dogs pissing and shitting on or near my premises, on the pavement on the way to work, or in the grassed area I might consider enjoying reading a book on during the summer.

Oh I'm *quite* sure that doesn't apply to Metropollers with animals. In fact it seems that NO dog owner I have ever met is prepared to admit to piles of steaming crapulence coming from their animals, or the acidic urine which removes the paint from the doorframe and pillars outside my office.

Its always someone else's, it seems.

That said, I don't think DVB was suggesting you use date-rate drugs on your animals. Perhaps keeping them at your side with the radio playing would be sufficient.

As a non dog owner I get little courtesy from those whose Alsations stand guard at the door of Scotmid waiting for their owners. I get told to "calm down - s/he won't bite" when they jump up at me - or even the retarded member of staff who works there and ties his dog up to bins outside (barking the whole time in distress) during his entire 6 hour weekend shift - which continues despite my complaint to their Head Office and my threat to report him to the RSPCA.

So, I would say fireworks are a nuisance for people, but don't start telling me that your right to have an animal is more important than my rights to perhaps have a fireworks party or a shit-free pavement.

That is all.

[iSon]

What's simply a loud bang to humans sounds like a nuclear explosion to dogs.

Which gets me wondering. What does a nuclear explosion sound like to dogs?

But if a nuclear explosions goes off in a forest with no dogs to hear it... will they still piss all over Stuart*Plymouth's floor?

[Gavin Scott]

What's simply a loud bang to humans sounds like a nuclear explosion to dogs.

Which gets me wondering. What does a nuclear explosion sound like to dogs?

But if a nuclear explosions goes off in a forest with no dogs to hear it... will they still piss all over Stuart*Plymouth's floor?

Does it happen year round? I wonder if its a dirty protest.

[Stuart*]

Does it happen year round? I wonder if its a dirty protest.

No, only when fireworks are being let off. The rest of the time my dog is good natured and very well behaved.

Gav, I notice your contradictory concern for the distressed dog tied up outside your local store each weekend and your threat to report the cruelty to the RSPCA. How does that differ from the cruelty inflicted on animals by those who let off fireworks?

Unless of course the noise of the dog barking is actually what disturbs you, rather than the suffering of the animal. Perhaps because the distress caused by fireworks is unseen and unheard by you it's rendered irrelevant.

[Gavin Scott]

Does it happen year round? I wonder if its a dirty protest.

No, only when fireworks are being let off. The rest of the time my dog is good natured and very well behaved.

Why of course he is.

Gav, I notice your contradictory concern for the distressed dog tied up outside your local store each weekend and your threat to report the cruelty to the RSPCA. How does that differ from the cruelty inflicted on animals by those who let off fireworks?

One is caused by humans having fun at a festive time of the year.

The other is not.

Unless of course the noise of the dog barking is actually what disturbs you, rather than the suffering of the animal. Perhaps because the distress caused by fireworks is unseen and unheard by you it's rendered irrelevant.

I consider myself to be a thoughtful caring person - but empathic I'm not. Even I would be straining to sense the plight of animals which I can neither see nor hear.

So yes - that is irrelevant to me.

Listen Stu - you chose to look after an animal some *several hundred years* after Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up Parliament. Its not as if you haven't had a bit of notice about this annual tradition. Do you want it to all stop because the animal you keeep doesn't like it? How do you explain that to the children who do? Fireworks have been a part of my childhood (the gala day, at the Scout Hall in summer, end of the Festival, Hogmanay etc), so why should it end now?

You have the opportunity to get in your beloved and well-driven car and pootle off to a kennel in the country, and let your dogs have a break from the whole rigmarole - but instead you'd rather complain about it.

Well that's on you, china. Don't go visiting that on me.