We have a new survey on fireworks!

As part of our fireworks campaign, we have launched a very quick survey for members of the public to inform us of their awareness of and willingness to use the various alternatives to fireworks for the sake of our animals.

There have been plenty of public surveys on public attitudes towards fireworks:

·         One Voice For Animals UK is an animal advocacy group who advise and help smaller animal welfare organisations as well as the public to find their local rescue centres. They conducted a survey which showed that 93% had seen fireworks related litter in public areas, streets and parks in the 2021 fireworks season. 78% of their respondents had personally seen their pets or field animals distressed by fireworks noise. And there were 10 witnessed incidents of fireworks related animal deaths.

·         A larger-scale survey was conducted in 2020, by the office of Alyn Smith MP, ahead of the now-enacted Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill 2022.  It revealed that 87% of people considered fireworks to be a danger to animals and 89% of people were in favour of increased restrictions around their use. 89% also said they would like to see the private use of fireworks banned.

·         A government petition launched in November 2021 to ban the manufacture, import, sale and use of fireworks in the UK amassed almost 15,000 signatures.

·         Finally, in a Scottish Government consultation on fireworks published in 2019, 87% of respondents were in support of a ban.  

Since the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act was passed in early 2022, little has changed. Most of its legislation has yet to come into effect. What has changed so far includes:

·         Limiting the hours that fireworks can be released to 6pm-11pm, except for 4 days of the year (Guy Fawkes Night, Diwali, New Year and Lunar New Year).

·         Limiting the hours that fireworks can be supplied to the general public to 7am-6pm.

·         Limiting the amount of fireworks that can be sold to a member of the public to 5kg or less at any one time.

·         Banning the sale of fireworks to minors.

Is it a step in the right direction? Yes. Does it go far enough? No.

We need something more comprehensive, with UK-wide restrictions if not an outright ban. We’ll be turning our attention to Westminster to persuade them that the animal lives are still at stake. We want to show them that there is public willingness and readiness to use firework alternatives, which are quieter, safer and more environmentally friendly, which don’t cause the untold perennial trauma to animals wild, farmed or companion.

You can help us achieve this by giving less than a minute of your time. Fill in our survey below and tell us if you would be willing to forego the ‘ooh’s and ‘ahh’s of the explosions, in favour of light displays, projections and other creative media for the sake of the lives and wellbeing of our animal population.