Fireworks can be a big issue in our communities. They can be used anti-socially – at late hours and unauthorised in public spaces. But even legal private and public displays can cause distress to vulnerable residents, pets and pet-owners.
Private displays in particular can occur on a number of evenings before and after bonfire night. They can cause trauma to pets and vulnerable people – and they are very difficult to plan for.
The below template council motion, based upon a model motion for the RSPCA, calls upon your council to publicise public displays, challenge shops to ID people buying fireworks and to promote quieter fireworks.
There are practical steps you can take in your community too. You can make sure you advertise large public displays in your local area. These are often family friendly events, with fireworks set off at reasonable times and volumes. People who attend these are less likely to hold their own private display at their home.
You can also encourage residents who are holding a private display to let their neighbours know. This gives pet owners chance to prepare so they can keep their dogs and cats calm and safe. We have some template resources to help you do that:
- A3 and A4 Focus Drop Ins – Affinity – PDF
- Social Media Graphics
- Template Email
An advice article on keeping pets safe around bonfire night from the Dogs Trust can be found here. It’s a good thing to share with social media posts about fireworks.