RSPCA: 57% of pets face firework fear on New Year’s eve
The RSPCA is urging people to attend public new year firework displays rather than holding their own as a revealing new poll shows 57 per cent of pets are scared of fireworks.
Organised displays are usually well publicised, which means pet owners can prepare in advance and reduce the amount of distress caused to animals.
The Society is also concerned that 60 per cent of people who are aware of laws regulating the use of fireworks say they don’t think they’re effective. Indeed, most people interviewed admitted they don’t know who to call if they witness fireworks laws being broken (58 per cent).
Sue Stafford, acting chief officer of the RSPCA, said: “Fifty-seven per cent of pets are scared of fireworks – this means that for more than half of pets, New Year’s Eve will be a nightmare. This is a bad start to 2008 for animals.
“Fireworks can cause a great deal of pain and anxiety to pets because their hearing is far more sensitive than ours. The noise could result in them bolting and becoming lost, hiding, shaking, or becoming destructive.”
It is an offence to let fireworks off between 11pm and 7am – except on Bonfire Night when they can be used until midnight, and Diwali, New Year and Chinese New Year, when they can be fired legally until 1am.2
“If anyone sees or hears fireworks being let off illegally, they should contact their local authority’s environmental health team, or if an animal’s welfare is being affected by fireworks, they should contact the RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 999,” Sue Stafford added.
Actors Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest) and David Schneider (Mission: Impossible, Gimme Gimme
Gimme) are helping spread the RSPCA’s fireworks message by appearing in a radio advert which is being broadcast in the run-up to New Year’s Eve.
In the ad, which was first broadcast in November, David is heard struggling as he pretends to put earplugs in a cat’s ears in a misguided attempt to protect it from firework noise. Bill points out that trying to fit animals with earplugs is ‘stupid’ and instead asks listeners to text ‘BANG’ to the RSPCA at 60022 for better advice on how to help animals.3
-ends-
Notes to editors:
1. The study was carried out for the RSPCA by TNS via PhoneBus, a
telephone omnibus survey. A representative sample of 1,015 adults living in Great Britain, aged 16-plus, were interviewed. Interviewing was conducted between 7 and 9 December 2007. The sample has been weighted to represent the adult population of Great Britain aged 16-plus.
2. Further information about firework laws and regulations can be
found at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/fact-sheets/page38121.html.
3. Texts will cost your network provider’s standard rate.
What the public can do to help:
· Never let fireworks off near any animals.
· Ensure all pets are kept indoors when fireworks are likely to be set off.
· Bring all small animals indoors (in their normal housing) into a quiet, dark room.
· Close curtains and leave a TV or music on to mask the noise of fireworks.
· Seek advice from your vet before the firework season begins.
Further tips on how people can best care for cats, dogs, horses and small animals are available from the RSPCA press office on 0300 123 0244.
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