Remember, remember...
...the fifth of November! You may love fireworks, but your animals may not.
Please don’t forget how frightening fireworks can be for animals this autumn.
Noisy fireworks in particular can be very distressing for animals, who usually have much more sensitive hearing than humans.
Every year horses are injured or even killed as they run in a blind panic to try and escape fireworks being let off around them. If you are planning a fireworks display of your own, please bear the following points in mind:
- Do you really need loud fireworks in your display? The RSPCA (www.rspca.org.uk) has a comprehensive list of very good low noise level versions in its section on fireworks.
- Are there horses kept within 2 miles of where you are planning to let off fireworks? If so, please make sure you let the owners know when and where you are having the display so they can take precautions. Please give them plenty of notice as they may need to move their animals to a different site.
- Fireworks can only be let off by private individuals until 11pm, with a special extension to 12 midnight on Bonfire Night and 1am on New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year. It is illegal to let off fireworks beyond these times.
- Not only horses, but any animal can be terrified by fireworks. This includes domestic pets, farm animals, birds and wildlife. During October and November 2004, nearly 700 animals in the UK were treated by vets for injuries and distress caused by fireworks.
Animals like Henk...
Henk arrived at the Ada Cole Rescue Stables in November 2002. It is believed that his horrific injuries were caused by his being hit by a firework at close range. Luckily, with intensive veterinary care, Henk made a full physical recovery. However, the psychological trauma he suffered can hardly be imagined.
For further information or advice, please call the Redwings Welfare Helpline on 01508 481008.
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