Amber Valley Borough Council is urging people to be considerate towards pets when holding fireworks displays this Bonfire Night.
The noise and flashes from fireworks can cause extreme distress for animals and misery for their owners during the days, or even weeks, leading up to 5 November.
Each year our Dog Wardens pick up dogs that have strayed after being startled by fireworks. Most are reunited with their owners, but some are not reclaimed and end up being sent to kennels.
Councillor Norman Bull, Amber Valley Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Safety and Housing, said: “We want Bonfire Night to be safe and fun for everyone, but people need to remember that it’s a frightening time for dogs and other animals. We would urge people holding their own displays to do all they can to minimise any distress caused to their own and their neighbours’ pets. At the same time we would encourage owners to follow our advice to ensure their pets are kept as safe as possible.
“We also want to remind people that it is a legal requirement that their dog wears a collar and disc at all times – this could mean the difference between your dog being returned to you promptly or kennelled and charges being incurred.”
Sam Beal, Dog Warden at Amber Valley Borough Council, said: “Dogs can find fireworks deafening and terrifying and many feel a need to escape and run away from the sudden loud noises. Dogs that are out when fireworks start can bolt with fright and not stop running for miles.
“We experienced this when we were called out to a stray dog in South Wingfield. Thankfully it was identichipped and we were able to trace it to an address in Chesterfield. It turned out that the dog had been startled by a firework the previous night and had not stopped running until it reached South Wingfield. It had travelled along the A61 and was lucky to be alive.”
To ensure distress to animals is kept to a minimum over the coming weeks, Amber Valley Borough Council is asking people to:
- Inform your neighbours if you plan to set off any fireworks.
- Use low-noise fireworks (available from most firework outlets).
- Keep pets indoors as much as possible at night and don’t let them wander outside.
- Exercise dogs during the day so they don’t have to go outside when fireworks may be going off.
- Disguise the noise – keep the curtains closed and the TV or radio turned up.
- Make sure your cat or dog is microchipped to ensure it can be returned to you if it escapes and becomes lost.
If you would like any further advice on this or other dog related issue please contact the Dog Warden Service Helpline at Amber Valley Borough Council on 01773 841335.
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For further information please contact Lisa Garnham, PR and Communications Manager at Amber Valley Borough Council, on 01773 841655.
