New fireworks legislation marks significant milestone in making Scotland a safer place for animals

On the lead up to Bonfire Night each year, social media platforms and news websites are awash with videos of dogs quivering in terror as fireworks bang and flash in the background. Throughout my career with the Scottish SPCA I’ve seen first-hand the devastating impact that fireworks and bonfires can have on dogs and other domestic pets, as well as farmed animals and wildlife.

As well as being extremely psychologically distressing for animals, fireworks and bonfires can cause physical harm too. The explosive sounds, bright flashes and unfamiliar smells can cause animals to flee in fright, resulting in injury or causing them to run into hazards. Horses can escape their fields and bolt into busy traffic; hedgehogs nestled down in a pile of leaves could find themselves engulfed in flames as a bonfire is lit around them and dogs looking to escape the loud bangs can run away from their owner and get lost.

Prolonged nights of terror

Sadly, for many animals, particularly those living in built-up areas, their ordeal is prolonged and inescapable. DIY fireworks displays often extend well before and beyond the celebration itself and animals may be surrounded by neighbours setting off fireworks in their gardens.

Deliberate acts of misuse

Unintentionally harming animals in this way is one thing, but deliberately causing pain or suffering is quite another. In the last few years, the Society has dealt with numerous reports of people using fireworks to intentionally hurt animals.

At the end of September, we received a report that a small group of teenagers were recording themselves setting off fireworks and aiming them at swans on Hogganfield Loch in Glasgow. A nearby dog walker said her dog was almost hit by the fireworks.

Although the swans were physically unharmed, their ordeal could have caused a great deal of stress to the birds. Unfortunately, we were unable to identify the young people involved so no further action could be taken.

A welcome change in legislation

However, there is some good news for animals and owners across Scotland. New legislation that aims to control the sale and use of fireworks in Scotland received royal assent in August 2022. The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 includes the prohibition of supplying fireworks or pyrotechnic articles, such as flares, to anyone under the age of 18. More changes around the supply and use of fireworks, including implementation of firework control zones, are set to come into place in 2023.

The Scottish SPCA is proud to work closely with BVA on a number of key animal welfare issues and, as members of the Scottish Government’s Fireworks Review Group, we have collaborated to ensure that the devastating impact of fireworks on animal welfare has been conveyed.

The newly introduced legislation represents a significant milestone in making Scotland a better and safer place for domestic, farmed and wild animals to live and we welcome in particular the introduction of further measures such as fireworks control zones in the near future as we believe this will have a significant impact on the animals in our care.

We always ask that that the public enjoy fireworks responsibly and be mindful of the negative effect their misuse can have on people and animals. This legislation will help to tackle the impact that private use in particular can have and help to keep communities across Scotland safe.

Read more information on this year’s #FireworkSafety campaign in which BVA has played an integral role.

Further reading: BVA's policy position on sale and use of fireworks

BVA has been calling for a wider review of fireworks and welcome the legislative changes that the Scottish Government has introduced so far. We urge the other nations to follow suit with a review of fireworks legislation, including tighter restrictions on the private use, sale and purchase of fireworks, licensing of all public displays and organised events, reduction in the noise limit of fireworks for public use and clear labelling of fireworks at point of sale to indicate their noise level to the consumer.

Read our full position on the sale and use of fireworks.