Hey
everybunny!
Right I’m
really sorry that I have to make this video as it is a very controversial
subject and A LOT of people will disagree with me, but, I freaking hate fireworks. I mean the colours and the beauty of it all is amazing and it can
be really really romantic, but you know what’s not great about fireworks? The DESTRUCTION they leave behind…
Every year so
many animals get terrified –to literal death- by the noise and
aftermath of fireworks, the smoke and the sudden lights in the sky are
terrifying to animals but it is mostly the noise. This time last year I was
going to get my bunnies that were only 2 months old at this point, I was
originally getting a lionhead and a minirex rabbit from 2 different breeders
but who worked together, I was picking the bunnies up the week after bonfire
night. Literally the day after bonfire night I received a message telling me
that the lionhead bunny baby had died the night before because of the noise
from the fireworks (they were outdoor bunnies which made it all the worse for
them), which resulted in myself getting the pair of minirex girls from the same
breeder as all the other lionhead litters had been taken (I don’t regret having
my girls it just makes me sad that the lionhead girl never made it). Every year
in the week bonfire night is on I am now bringing the girls inside so that even
though it may be a little loud, it won’t compare to them being outside. But it’s
not just rabbits that get affected by firework noise, every year certain pet
adverts are made about products used to help keep animals calm when there are
fireworks, such as the feliway advert and the dap advert, one for cats and one
for dogs (link to the advert - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x2LTePhMwk) .
what angers me is there shouldn’t be a case where we have to make our animals
accept horrible noises their senses are incredible and detect things much more
than our own, so a loud bang that can make us jump is even worse for an animal
with their heightened sense of hearing! In America they advertise about being
careful with fireworks due to veterans who suffer withy PTSD (post-traumatic
stress disorder) and while I agree people really should take notice for
veterans, there should be just as much care and emphasise towards animals that
it probably ends up affecting in much higher numbers!
Another
example of animal’s I know to suffer from the fireworks was my own pet dog who
sadly passed away around 4 years ago now, every bonfire night she would squeeze
herself down the back of the sofa and cry and cower, this is the same effect it
has on a friend of mines dog to this present day. They cower and cry and
whimper and stress themselves out so much some have a heart attack! Luckily I haven’t
met anyone who has lost a pet dog or cat from firework induced heart attacks
but many have been on the verge! One of my closest friends Nicola, or
Phoenixgg2 as you may know her, got told that one of her 2 dogs has an
extremely weak heart that cannot be put under too much pressure and she could
have very nearly lost him this week due to the sound of the fireworks going on
around him from neighbours! After she posted on twitter about how upset all of
this was making her and her parents she got verbally attacked for ‘forsaking’ a
tradition… I got called a Nazi for stating I hate fireworks because apparently ‘the
Germans wanted to take our freedom to do what we want, that is what you are
doing by saying fireworks are bad’… I mean I don’t think I ever heard something
so stupid in my entire life… I don’t want to BAN fireworks I just think they
should be displayed away from public property… it’s all fine and dandy doing it
in your own garden do what you want, but with how loud the fireworks are it doesn’t
only affect you… you should be considerate of your neighbours it’s crazy
selfish! (Also that kid who called me a Nazi also said he ‘didn’t want to buy a
poppy because nobody cares about that shit anymore and he won’t be
guilt-tripped into spending his “hard-earned” money’… I know right…)
Wednesday I
was travelling to Wolverhampton to stay overnight with a uni friend because
there was a university trip to whales the day after which I had to be at the
uni at 8am for, I stayed over to save me from getting up at 4/5am to get to uni
as I would have had to get 2 buses to get there, one being a half an hour
travel and the other being an hour and a half travel, which you then have to
add in the waiting around for buses and getting to the bus stop. Whilst
travelling I very nearly had a panic attack thinking about coming home Friday to
my bunnies having died from the noise of the fireworks… my dad put them in
their carrier and brought them in the house until the fireworks had ended and
we also brought them in overnight Saturday, they’re not allowed in the house we
could possibly be kicked out for it but the landlord has agreed to them being
in their carrier inside if something outside could cause them harm such as
noise. However last night (Saturday/early hours Sunday morning) the fireworks
were going off until nearly 3am… I was disgusted and so so angry things like
that can keep people awake as well it’s just rude and a public disturbance!
I know
fireworks will never stop we just ask that they get moved further away from the
public living areas and perhaps be kept between certain times, if the noises
are further away the more likely it is for animals to not get affected by the
noise (with it being quitter of course) if you would like to read more about
the suggestions and the impact fireworks have on animals I have left 2 links
below which I found interesting to read. There is a massive effect fireworks in
general have on animals such as birds with their super teeny tiny hearts and if
you google ‘fireworks effects on birds’ there are a whole range of websites and
news articles that come up.
I know
people will disagree with me, but I needed to get my words out. I didn’t want
to make a video because I would be crying (as I have been through writing this
out of upset, anger and frustration). I just love animals…
<3 Embunny
