GSPCA calls for responsible firework use on New Year's Eve to reduce animal 'anxiety'

The manager of Guernsey's main animal shelter is calling on islanders to be conscious of the negative impacts noise from fireworks can have on pets and livestock, as New Year's Eve approaches.

Steve Byrne, from the GSPCA, is encouraging islanders to let neighbours know in advance if they are planning on holding private firework displays to celebrate the New Year to allow those living nearby to take extra precautions to protect their pets from harm.

Mr Byrne told ITV News: "In Guernsey, this November we saw more firework events than anyone can remember in recent years and it was incredibly noisy and incredibly loud, an incredible number of events.

"And we're fast approaching New Year's Eve and we're aware of events potentially being planned.

"We all need to prepare for those situations. The animals at the shelter here, even though we did everything we could to make them as safe as we possibly could, were distressed due to the loud noises, bangs and the close proximity to those events taking place.

"So if anybody is having events, please do register them, please do let your neighbours know and people in the area so that we can prepare for those occasions that may happen.

"Animals do get distressed, as well as people, and we need to do everything that we can to keep them safe."

Mr Byrne added that a lack of communication about planned firework displays can stretch the GSPCA's resources when they have to comfort scared animals or find ones which go missing as a result of anxiety from the noises.

He added: "It can keep us very, very busy if people aren't doing the right thing by informing their neighbours and wherever possible, by trying to use silent fireworks or other alternatives that might reduce the stress and upset for those animals and people in those areas where you might want to celebrate in a slightly different way to raise a glass at midnight [on New Year's Eve]."

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