Big Brother winner and radio presenter Kate Lawler is lobbying MPs to combat fireworks, on behalf of pet owners who tend to terrified animals during the season.
Kate is working with the RSPCA, and has contacted her local MP Catherine West to complain about local people setting off fireworks outside of public displays, and is encouraging people to with petrified pets to do the same.
Speaking to the Mirror, Kate says: “The more people that do this, the more they’re going to take it seriously. I’d love to go to Parliament and speak about it. Dogs are being terrorised on and around fireworks night to the point where they die - it’s really sad. They have heart attacks.”
People considering holding private displays are being encouraged to check out local maps on the animal charity’s website, where they can input their postcade to see an estimate of how many pets could be affected by the terrifying loud bangs in the local area. Kate, 44, has two dogs, Baxter and crossbreed terrier Shirley, and both are terrified of fireworks, though Baxter i losing his hearing so is less troubled by them in his older years.
Earlier this year, Shirley was so spooked by a loud bang, she weed in Kate’s bed in the early hours of the morning - and Kate fears the worst, as dogs have been known to die from heart attacks at the shock of the violently loud bangs. “She lost it and weed on the bed,” recalls Kate. “It was gone midnight - we had to get up and change the sheets.” She tries to help Shirley get through the season by holding a duvet over her ears.
“I wish people were more mindful about how the sound of fireworks - which are getting louder - negatively impact our pets,” continues Kate. “The RSPCA is trying to make everyone have a good fireworks night - they have a ‘kind sparks guide’ to help people be considerate. For pet owners, it’s one of the most stressful days of the year. If you can go to planned events and not have private displays, or warn others if you’re having a private display. Please warn your neighbours. I’ve messaged my street’s WhatsApp group asking them to let us know if they plan to set any off.”
Kate’s three-year-old daughter Noa is also frightened was also left shaken by unexpected fireworks being let off while she was Trick or Treating on Halloween.
Kate is also urging pet owners to contact their local MPs, which they can do via the website - though she added videos and photographs of her traumatised pets as well. “It’s really easy and there is a survey directly emailed to them,” she says. “There’s also a lot of advice. The best thing you can do is take your dog out on the longest walk they’ve ever had during the day - we’re talking before 3pm. Wear them out, knacker them out - throw a ball in your living room for an hour. The more tired they are, the more likely they are to go to sleep. Close your curtains and play music.”
Kate has contacted vets who will be prescribing sedatives for Shirley for the upcoming fireworks season. Kate points out there are now more dogs in the UK, due to lockdown, where there were less firework displays, who are now shocked to hear the loud bangs, but wants all animals considered. “It’s not just dog owners, horses are known to bolt and livestock are terrified, as well as birds. We need animals to be seen as equals - we were all put on this earth to share it. We’re not more important.”
Kate would personally like to see fireworks banned. “Drones are so impressive - it’s a magical, immersive experience,” she offers as an alternative. “I don’t want to sound like a killjoy, but dogs have to be heavily sedated.
“We have traditions in this country so we’re fighting a losing battle if we try to ban fireworks, which I would like to see done. But it’s probably never going to happen so this year, the RSPCA is trying to encourage conversations between neighbours and making people realise just how many animals are afraid of fireworks.”
She encourages checking your postcode on their interactive map as “it might actually make you feel twice” about having a private display. To read the Kind Sparks guide and try out the decibel map visit www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/fireworks.
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