Premature Immaturity

I have come to the conclusion that we are in fact breeding a nation of degenerate and inconsiderate idiots.

Yes, I understand it's coming up to fireworks night. Yes, I appreciate that when it is fireworks night I shall endeavour to keep my dog safe and comfortable as best I can so that he is terrified by the rest of the nation celebrating some antiquated event, which to be honest I don't give a toss about (lets, face it Guy didn't quite get the result he wanted did he?!). What I don't understand is why people can not have the tiniest bit of considertation and keep the celebrations to the day they are intended.

The reason for my rant is that today is 8, yes 8 days before fireworks night - so it was somewhat suprising whilst letting Rupert out for a pee this evening that some idiotic toss bag just a couple of doors down from us decides to let off fireworks which explode directly above our garden. This of course completely freaks Rupert out to the extent that he wedges himself between the shed and next doors fence and there isn't a cats chance of getting to him without destroying either the shed or the fence.

We decide the fence is the better option so while Phil is trying to extract the dog I try to track down the neighbour who is still letting off the fireworks, much I am sure to his merriment. I find out who it is, but they refuse to answer the door so in floods of tears I go back to the house to help Phil rescue Rupert who is petrified to the point of pooing himself. We finally manage to move enough of the fence to get hold of Rupert and rush him inside and try to settle him down. We have to give him a bath because he's gotten a bit messy and it takes a good while for him to extracate himself from either of us.

Of course the problem now is that he's going to be terrified of the garden, so we have to get him back out there somehow. We wait until very late and tempt him outside with some roast chicken which does the trick but I can tell there is going to be some considerable rebuilding of confidence to be done and I can't ever see him being comfortable around bangs and whizzes again.

I just wish the government would ban the public sale of fireworks - they are dangerous to humans and animals alike and would be much better regulated if only licensed venues could set up displays. At least that way we'd have some idea of when fireworks would be let off, and I'm pretty sure most pet owners would be grateful to know they and their pets wouldn't be subjected to the weeks of pre and post fireworks that are let off every year but wanna be Fawkes Fans making life considerably miserable for the rest of us.

Posted by Abi on the October 28, 2006 6:50 PM