In heartbreaking news, a dog owner has revealed that her 18-week-old puppy has died from a heart attack which was triggered by noisy fireworks.
Posting in her local South Yorkshire Facebook group, Wombwell Wise, Susan Paterson shared images of her sweet young terrier, explaining how the loud bangs sadly resulted in her passing away.
"Due to the enormous amount of fireworks with loud bangs going off around Wonbwell and lower Darfield last night, we lost a young terrier with a heart attack," Susan said.
"Please think of the animals. Molly was only 18-weeks-old and died of FRIGHT caused by fireworks. Please support FAB Anti Random Fireworks page and sign their petition."
The post, which has been shared over 67,000 times, highlights just how severely fireworks can affect our dogs.
Many others owners commented explaining that their dogs were also scared. One lady said: "My dogs have always been ok but last night in Darfield it was just like bombs going off my little dog of 10 was so terrified I had to put her inside the top off my dressing gown where it was dark and safe it still took her hours to calm down."
Fireworks are a big stress trigger for dogs, often leaving them incredibly nervous and scared. Previous research by the RSPCA found that 62% of dog owners say their animal is visibly distressed when fireworks are going off nearby.
In a bid to help animals, one town in Italy, Collecchio, passed a law in 2015 to ban loud fireworks completely. Instead, they switched to 'silent' fireworks, where the quiet displays show only the bright colourful lights — with no noise.
Read more:
- How to reduce your dog's stress levels this Bonfire Night
- The Kennel Club warn all dog owners to update their microchip details
- UK firework laws could change to help relieve anxiety in dogs
Following suit, some parts of the UK are apparently also switching to silent fireworks, particularly when located close to wildlife and livestock.
Earlier this month, Sainsbury's also announced its ban on fireworks after recognising how distressing they can be to pets and the elderly.
What should you do if your dog is distressed by fireworks?
- Keep your dog indoors and surround them with comforting things that will relax them
- Create a den for them in the quietest part of the house
- Try to act normally and don't create a fuss
- Keep the television or radio on as a distraction
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