Fireworks are no blast for family pets who are left quaking with fear

Fireworks can be a source of distress for many animals

Fionola Meredith

I’m writing this column with a terrified dog sitting beside me. Normally our pup is full of joy, energy and confidence, but tonight he’s a shadow of himself. His whole body is shaking uncontrollably and his eyes are huge and full of fear.

Why? There are fireworks as loud as mortar bombs going off every few seconds. He’s been in this state for the past two hours, and I reckon it will be another couple of hours, maybe more, before the fireworks fizzle out.