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Amanda Baker, who is partially sighted and relies on her guide dog Eddie, says Bonfire Night leaves her house-bound for fear of the effect fireworks have on her beloved pet. Eddie is so terror-stricken by the bangs and whistles of fireworks that Baker is forced to stay home every evening to comfort him as the season drags on. The seven-year-old guide dog refuses to eat or drink, can’t work and is often left shaking for hours, leaving Baker, who lives in Flintshire, anxious about his potential health consequences.
Guide Dogs revealed that about a quarter of guide-dog owners reported their animals suffer distress from fireworks displays. While Guide Dogs works hard to introduce puppies to recording of firework sounds to help them socialize, it’s difficult to simulate the real thing. The charity’s director of canine affairs, Tim Stafford, suggests choosing silent fireworks or only going to organized displays, rather than buying fireworks for home use.
The British Fireworks Association recognizes the concerns raised by Baker and Guide Dogs but stresses the need to balance them with the potential negative impacts of stricter regulations, such as rising black-market sales of fireworks that would be more difficult to manage. However, the association admits the need to raise the minimum age for buying fireworks from 18 years old to 21, as well as clamping down on illegal sales. The group has worked with the government to develop a 10-point plan to tackle anti-social behavior and promote education on responsible firework usage.
Baker says she has tried every available technique to calm Eddie down, including covering windows with blankets to block out the noise and light flashes, turning up the volume on the TV, and administering sedatives prescribed by the vet. Although the medication helps, it only takes the edge off Eddie’s fear. Last year, Eddie’s distress almost caused him to be withdrawn from working, but Baker begged to keep him, and he responded well to treatment. She describes him as wonderful at his job of guiding her and giving her confidence and describes their relationship as one of love and bond
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