Fireworks, Pets, Wildlife & Responsible Use
We’re a family business and pet owners ourselves, so we know fireworks season can be hard on animals. Loud, sudden bangs and flashes can frighten dogs, cats, horses and wildlife, sometimes for days afterwards. You can still enjoy a great display: a little planning and the right fireworks make all the difference.
Choose quieter fireworks
Not every firework has to bang. Many fountains, wheels, roman candles and cakes give beautiful colour with little more than a whoosh or a crackle.
- Check the Noise Rating on every product page. Rating 1 means low noise. See what each rating means on our Firework Safety page.
- Browse our Quiet Fireworks range, including our Sound of Silence assortment, designed for families, small children and wildlife.
- In our shops, look out for Jorge fountains and cakes marked “silent fireworks” on the box, and ask our team for low-noise recommendations.
Stick to the legal times
Keeping to the legal hours means your neighbours know when to expect fireworks and can prepare their pets.
- England and Wales: not between 11pm and 7am. Exceptions: Bonfire Night until midnight; Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year until 1am.
- Scotland: only between 6pm and 11pm, with the same extended nights. Fireworks are banned entirely in Firework Control Zones.
- Never in the street or a public place, anywhere in the UK.
Full details are on our Firework Safety page.
Before the night: be a good neighbour
- Tell your neighbours a few days ahead with the date and time, so they can bring pets in and plan.
- Think about who lives nearby: horses or livestock in nearby fields, an animal rescue centre, or neighbours who find loud noise distressing, such as veterans, elderly people or people with autism.
- Never set off fireworks near fields with horses or livestock. If there are animals nearby, let their owners know.
- Pick a sensible time: earlier in the evening, and keep your display short.
Dogs
- Walk your dog in daylight, before fireworks are likely to start.
- Keep your dog indoors once it’s dark, with windows and curtains closed.
- Put on the TV or radio to mask the bangs.
- Give them a quiet den they can retreat to, and let them hide if they want to.
- Never punish a frightened dog, and try to stay calm yourself.
- Talk to your vet well in advance about sound therapy or calming aids.
- Make sure their microchip and ID tag details are up to date.
Cats
- Bring your cat in before dark, lock the cat flap, and put out a litter tray.
- Create hiding places, including somewhere high up, as many cats feel safer off the ground.
- Close curtains and keep doors and windows shut so they can’t bolt.
- Let your cat decide whether to hide; don’t pull them out.
- Check their microchip details are current in case they escape.
Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small pets
- Partly cover outdoor hutches and pens with blankets to muffle noise and block flashes, leaving one side open for air and a view out.
- Give extra bedding so they can burrow.
- Consider moving hutches into a shed, garage or indoors, but do it gradually over several days.
Horses
- Never set off fireworks near a horse’s field or stable.
- If you own horses and know fireworks are planned nearby, arrange for someone experienced to stay with them.
- Avoid riding when fireworks might be set off.
Wildlife
- Check bonfires for hedgehogs and other animals before lighting. Ideally build the bonfire on the day, or move the pile to a new spot just before you light it.
- Fire away from hedges, trees and ponds where wildlife shelters.
- Never fire fireworks over farmland with livestock or near nature reserves.
The morning after
Spent fireworks and sparklers can stay hot for a long time and can burn paws. Many fireworks also contain chemicals that are harmful if chewed or swallowed.
- Check your garden in daylight and pick up every piece of debris, including rocket sticks and sparkler wires.
- Soak spent fireworks and sparklers in a bucket of water overnight before putting them in your general waste.
- Never burn fireworks or packaging.
- Keep pets away from the firing area until it has been cleared.
Prefer an organised display?
A single, well-publicised display lets everyone nearby plan ahead. If you’re organising one for your community, school or club, our professional display team can help, including low-noise displays.
