MP was patronizing over fireworks and pets

As a cat owner, I welcome the news that Sainsbury’s will no longer sell fireworks.

Most people know that they should keep their pets in on November 5 (and the two weekends nearest).

But when you start getting idiots letting off bangers two weeks or three weeks before or afterwards (before it’s even dark, sometimes!); or just when you think it’s safe to let your pets out, weeks away from November 5, a huge display appears in nearby gardens; or people ‘celebrate’ birthdays any old time of year with fireworks, it becomes a terrifying time for pets and their owners – especially for people who are working and can’t rush home to bring their pets in.

Several years ago, I wrote to my MP (I won’t name him but most will know who he is – the same MP who believes in fox hunting and is heavily involved in Brexit), asking if the law could be changed to regulate EXACTLY when fireworks would be allowed to be let off – i.e. November 5/the Friday and Saturday nearest/New Year’s Eve/ Diwalhi/ Chinese New Year, etc – rather than this random eruption of frightening noise and ‘whooshes’ any old time of day or evening for the whole of November and other unconnected days.

His reply was patronising (i.e. ‘keep your pets in’ – er, yes, I told YOU that, but what about the weeks/months before and after?).

He is obviously not an animal lover, as he seemed to trivialise the whole problem (i.e. along the lines of ‘I don’t believe in controlling anything that anyone wants to do’ – WHAT?).

He even referred me to the website that I mentioned to HIM in my letter, to get information on pet safety!

I just recall, on one random evening near the end of November, before it was barely dark, trying to retrieve a terrified cat from the shelter of a bush in a nearby field.

He was visibly shaking and unable to move through terror, whilst a nearby garden, over the other side of the field, was the source of loud ‘whooshing’ noises, frightening lights and constant bangs.

Needless to say, I have never voted for that MP again.

No wonder Brexit has been in such a mess, if that is an example of our local MP’s derision and apathy for his constituents’ views.

Well done, Sainsbury’s – I hope other shops follow and that regulations surrounding the whole ‘Firework Night’ palaver will be tightened, once we get a ‘caring’ government in – but that’s another story and may just be ‘pie in the sky’...

Concerned reader,

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