George Foulkes backs campaign to protect furry friends from fireworks.
Tue 27th Oct 2009
George Foulkes today tabled a motion in Parliament backing the SSPCA’s campaign to change the law on the use of fireworks.
Currently the sale of fireworks is restricted to particular times of year but the use of fireworks is much more liberal. Fireworks can be used 365 days of the year between the hours of 7am and 11pm. George Foulkes would like to see this restricted so that fireworks can only be used on days of recognised festivals and special events like Guy Fawkes night, the Edinburgh Festival and Chinese New Year.
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has long campaigned to change the law on the use of fireworks because of the effect it has on domestic and wild animals. A dog’s hearing is twice as sensitive as a human’s and a cat’s hearing three times as sensitive, so fireworks are incredibly distressing for animals. With fixed opportunities for use, pet owners would be better equipped to plan for firework displays and keep their pets indoors.
George Foulkes said: “Edinburgh is renowned for its world class fireworks displays and this campaign is not about curtailing these fantastic displays at key points in the year. The goal is to restrict impromptu fireworks displays which pet owners have no opportunity to plan for.”
“Fireworks are extremely dangerous and should always be used with great care, but next time you organise a display at home think about the effect it has on your neighbours, particularly the furry ones.”
Why not encourage your other Lothians MSPs to sign the motion?
*S3M-5054 George Foulkes: Fireworks and Furry Friends—That the Parliament welcomes the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal’s (SSPCA) campaign to change the law on the use of fireworks; notes that the law currently allows people to use fireworks any day of the week between the hours of 7 am and 11 pm with no regard for the impact on domestic and wild animals; notes that a dog’s hearing is twice as sensitive as a human’s and a cat’s is three times as sensitive; believes that the use of fireworks should be restricted to festivals and special events, such as 5 November, New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year and the Hindu festival of Diwali; considers that this would ensure that pet owners could plan to keep pets indoors, and calls on the general public to ensure that fireworks are used carefully and responsibly, recognising the obvious dangers to both people and animals.
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