Remember, remember your animal friends this Bonfire Night

Guy Fawkes Night is here today, and while it can be one of the most exciting nights of the year, it can also be one of the saddest. Animals are not too fond of large fires and noisy fireworks.
Many already know that dogs and cats are scared of fireworks. A poll found that 62 percent of dogs show signs of distress during fireworks. On Bonfire Night last year, a dog in Manchester died of a heart attack while trying to burrow under decking to get away from the loud bangs.
People also know that hedgehogs sometimes nest in bonfires before they are lit and end up being burned alive. But that’s just the beginning of the impact fireworks have on our animal cousins.

In 2017, a horse was so terrified by the sound of a firework display that he twisted his gut and galloped round a field in sheer panic before dying. His death was long and torturous: vets said he suffered alone for 14 hours before he died.
In Lincolnshire, a horse was so scared by a nearby display she jumped out of her field and was hit by a car on the A57. A four-month-old colt was put to sleep after he was driven “insane” with terror by a firework display.
Similar incidents have happened with other animals, including wild deer. Pregnant farm animals have miscarried because of firework noise. A bull died after he became impaled on a fence.
Birds are also killed by fireworks. They panic and fly too far out to sea, eventually collapsing into the waves. Others break their necks or wings when they fly into buildings in the darkness after becoming terrified by the loud booms and sudden flashes of light.
As soon as those deafening explosions begin, many squirrels abandon their nests and end up so confused they can’t find their way back to their babies.
Debris from fireworks often lands in rivers and lakes. This means fish, ducks and swans ingest toxic matter and are slowly, painfully poisoned to death. Others become entangled in the debris.
During November, animal sanctuaries and shelters see a spike in arrivals of pets and other animals that have fled from their homes during firework displays. Vets say these animals’ ears are often damaged by the thunderous explosions of the pyrotechnics.

This Bonfire Night, please spare a thought for the animals and birds who may be terrified by the deafening crashes and blinding flashes. Here are some tips to protect the animals and plants in your garden or local forest land:
● Put your dogs and cats indoors at night. Please stay with them as much as possible.
● If you can’t bring your pet inside, you should cover the outside of the cage with a blanket to create a soundproof, hidden area for the animal.
● Choose a suitable place to light a campfire. Choose a place where there are no leaves or other debris, and keep the fire away from hedges and bushes that may inhabit animals.
● Double-check. Use a flashlight to make sure there are no hedgehogs, rabbits and eradication habitats before lighting a campfire.
● Use water to extinguish the campfire to ensure the area is safe and cool to prevent curious animals from finding it.

Yet as people learn the truth about firework displays, the pressure is building. Some want regulation to be introduced, with fireworks only allowed briefly at certain times and in certain places. More than 750,000 people have signed a petition calling for a ban on shops selling fireworks. Many shops have responded positively: Sainsbury’s has announced it will not sell any this year.
Social media has played a part in changing attitudes. Pet owners are able to share photos and videos of their babies suffering visibly from trauma. This made people who saw the photos pay attention to the impact of fireworks.
There’s a long way to go and we will see what happens in the days ahead when there will be countless firework displays, and countless terrified animals, across the country.
