We've met many dogs who are terrified of fireworks. Luckily, if you know a large display is going to happen, you can make efforts to lessen the impact it has, by going out for the day, or staying over somewhere else. We have clients who bring their dogs to us for a few nights, as we are in a quiet area.

Our stance here at HHDB is to stop the sale of fireworks to the general public. Large demonstrations are great, and if a community wants to get together to organise a display, brilliant! But the selling of fireworks to the general public coming in off the street should come to an end.

​We’ve seen how irresponsible people can be with them, and even though you can only buy two packets of paracetamol at a time, you can buy as many explosives as you like - and even get them delivered to your door! It all seems very weird. 

Let’s keep the fireworks solely for licensed events, that way everyone can get what they want. ​

Whilst we don’t object at all to well planned and advertised firework events, what we don’t like and want banned is sale to the public. We don't think it should be permitted to allow just anyone to let off explosives in their back garden at any time of the day or night.

We don’t think it’s appropriate that for most of October and November, many dog owners live in fear of a firework being set off in a public park, causing their dogs to bolt and, possibly, killed on the road as a result.

We’ve had such an instance ourselves a few months ago. When walking in a wildlife reserve in broad daylight at 3pm, a loud firework went off somewhere close, and if we hadn’t had good control of our dogs they could have scattered to the wind.

Nobody out walking their dog in the middle of the afternoon should have to worry about potential explosions around us when in country parks.​

Perhaps you have your own stories of your dogs being badly affected by fireworks? Let us know in the comments or over on our Facebook page, but please PLEASE fill in this consultation first and we can at least try to effect change. 

Our basic points for the survey are:

• Fireworks should not be sold to the general public.
  
  
• Fireworks should only be available to licensed events.
  
  
• Firework events should always be well advertised in advance with clear start and end times. 

Please let your opinions known at the Scottish Government Consultation Page.  ​

Many people will say that if you work full time, you shouldn't get a dog. We wholeheartedly disagree with this. Dogs are not the sole resource of rich, retired, unemployed or work from home folk.

However, you do need to keep in mind the welfare of your dog if you are out the house a lot throughout the day.

There are professional dog walkers who will come and spend time with your dog throughout the day, or ddoggy daycare where they can spend their days with other pups. Do keep in mind the costs associated with these, but also consider alternative options. Can you get home at lunchtime to walk the dog instead? Do you have friends, family or trusted neighbours nearby who would like to help out? ​

​A dog is a huge responsibility, and not something you can ignore for hours on end, which brings us to our next question: