Nae Fireworks at Whitelee Wind Farm

This year we once again again spent Bonfire Night at the annual Nae Fireworks Night at Whitelee Wind Farm, hosted by the wonderful Whitelee Countryside Rangers.

An event that started some 8 years ago with a handful of people looking for somewhere to escape the terror of fireworks during Bonfire Night, it has grown to see over 1000 people and their dogs showing up for the event, with the organisers having to turn people away for lack of additional parking, demonstrating the extent of how many suffer from the onslaught of fireworks.

People could join the group walks led by the rangers around the fields, or just relax at the tables with a hot drink and chat with others.

One thing became very clear amid conversations with people - firework use has gotten worse. I was shocked how many people gave accounts of fireworks being fired at their dogs.

Sylvie was one of many dogs relieved to have a break from the deluge of fireworks over the previous week.

One need only visit the facebook page Ban fireworks for public sale UK PUBLIC GROUP to see the harrowing accounts of how fireworks terrorise animals, and with nearly 7000 members and many, many more beyond that, it begs the question; knowing the incredible terror, trauma, harm and death caused by firework displays by the general public, why is the government not banning the sale of fireworks to the public?

Many people said they’d be okay with one big organised display at a scheduled time, set somewhere away from residential homes, away from stables and bird estuaries. This would be an easy compromise that would allow protection of animals and vulnerable people.

Each year that goes by there are more accounts of harm from fireworks. This can only build the momentum to finally persuade the government to do the only reasonable and humane thing and ban the sale of fireworks to the public.

With every account of animal suffering, we are more determined than ever to seek the necessary change in legislation.