Should our pets have to bear the noise of Bonfire Night? Our readers had their say

The fireworks have already started across the West Midlands as Bonfire Night fast approaches, but this year a poll found that three-quarters of pet owners believe it is the most stressful time of year for their animals.

By the same poll, one in five pet owners think fireworks should be banned outright but is that too harsh? We put it to you, our readers, on the Express & Star Facebook page - but opinion was split.

Plenty of worried pet owners were keen on restricting access from the public to organised displays.

Janet Ralley said the only events should be council-run: “Not on sale for the public at all.”.

A possible alternative was suggested by Kirsty Louise White, despite her frustration: “Ban them, or make them silent but it's the same conversation every single year and absolutely nothing happens - I've given up!”

The idea of silent fireworks was a sentiment shared by many. Tracy Baker Whitehurst said it’s not just pets who struggle: “Limit them to public displays or make them silent or low-volume for private use. It terrifies the poor animals, and some humans too.”

Similarly, Beverly Hutt said: “It’s not only pet owners - they are so loud. Elderly people, etc, get frightened by them too.”

Craig Gutteridge, however, reckons the responsibility lies with owners. He said: “No, no, no. The question should be: Should dog owners be made to train dogs to tolerate noise?”

Some readers, like Susan Rowledge, suggested some form of middle ground, where restrictions are placed on the size of fireworks sold: “I think it should go back to the small boxes for the public, but only being sold a few days before Bonfire Night and New Year’s Eve.

“The larger fireworks and those big, cube, ‘100-shots’ type things and bigger should be limited to organised displays and only be purchasable by someone who has a council permit for said event.”

But even that opinion drew contrarians such as Jeremy Adams who said: “Nope. And fireworks should be louder and brighter.”

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!