Dogs Trust Glasgow calls for firework ban around dog rehoming centre

The public is being urged to support a bid by a local Dogs Trust branch to ban to introduce a firework control zone around its rehoming centre.

Dogs Trust Glasgow has launched a petition calling for the council to implement restrictions in Broomhouse to limit the private use of fireworks, like back garden displays, for a specific period of time.

Public, organised displays would still be possible within the zone. 

Glasgow City Council considered a similar application from the charity last year, but the initial application was refused.

The charity, which has a rehoming centre with 60 dogs near Broomhouse, said staff at the centre witness the “extreme anxiety and distress” caused to dogs by fireworks.

“It’s really upsetting to see and made worse knowing that there is little that can be done to help them while fireworks are going off all around them,” Lee-Ann Howieson, Dogs Trust’s regional public affairs officer for Scotland said.

“Our Glasgow rehoming centre is particularly affected as it’s in a residential area where private displays are frequent, unpredictable and can go on for hours.”

Ms Howieson said the fireworks season is a “really difficult time” for the team in Glasgow, and she said dogs respond in “all sorts of ways, including hiding, not eating, trembling, shaking, panting, and trying to escape from their kennel”.

“When the team is aware of public displays, they can at least prepare as best they can by having more staff and volunteers working to assist distressed dogs and provide enrichment activities and medication.

“However, the day-to-day work at the centre is also greatly affected during fireworks season as we are unable to rehome dogs or take in new dogs due to the additional stress fireworks cause.”

The charity estimates that half of pet dogs in the UK fear fireworks.

During fireworks season last year, at their two practices near Dogs Trust Glasgow, ScotVet saw an 80% to 92% increase in dogs being prescribed calming and anti-anxiety medication.

Dogs Trust said implementing a fireworks control zone around Bonfire Night would be a positive step forward for dog welfare in the area.

“We are glad that Glasgow City Council is again considering a firework control zone in our area and are hoping for a more positive outcome this year. We urge locals to please have their say and support the proposal,” Ms Howieson said.

Glasgow City Council’s fireworks control zone consultation is open until June 18, and opinions are sought from locals living in the area and people with a connection to the area. To comment on the application for a Firework Control Zone visit: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Broomhouse/