There is some good news on the horizon for the dogs and wildlife of the UK. There are new firework laws being introduced that may make annual events such as Diwali and Bonfire Night a much less traumatic experience.
The news was announced just as Kelly Tolhurst – consumer affairs minister – responded to another campaign by the RSPCA, which called for a review of Britain’s firework laws.
Events like Halloween and Bonfire Night are popular in the UK, and the celebrations usually go on for a while. Because of that, the RSPCA wants people to remember that this month can be extremely anxiety-inducing for pets.
The research collected by the RSPCA has shown that 62% of dog owners claim their pets are visibly upset while there are fireworks going off in the area. In addition, since 2014, the RSPCA has received more than 2,200 firework-related calls.
According to a report by the Express, Ms. Tolhurst sent off letters to MPs Grahame Morris and Ronnie Cowan which said, “The Government is aware of the concern over the impact of fireworks noise. This is why there is already a maximum legal noise level set for fireworks. We are receiving representations from a range of stakeholders including members of the public, organizations, and charities. This work will inform future policy in this area.”
The minister has also taken into consideration the results of the latest research, conducted in October by the Scottish Government. It revealed that 87% of those 16,420 who responded were in favor of the banning of fireworks.
If you happen to be living in an area that gets a lot of fireworks, here are a few tips on how to help handle your dog’s stress level:
- Keep them indoors and surrounded by comforting things that will relax them.
- Make them a little hideout in a part of the house that is the quietest.
- Don’t make a big fuss over them. While we might think that we’re making them feel loved, seeing us act abnormally might actually stress them out more.
- If possible during the day, take them for an extra-long walk. This way, when evening comes they’ll hopefully sleep right through the noise.
