Illegal fireworks leaves pet owners furious

Many pet owners started the new year by scrambling about trying to find their lost dogs following the illegal use of fireworks in and around Pretoria. Many traumatised dogs scratched through fences and broke windows trying to get away from the loud bangs surrounding them.

Joanne Esterhuysen Potgieter said that she spend New Year’s eve trying to calm a house full of frantic animals.

“My neighbor’s dog, a Sharpei, was left wounded and traumatized on New Year’s eve as a result of fireworks.The scared dog broke through our palisade fence and a gate to try and get away from the noise. It sounded like world war three outside. I found the badly injured dog and kept him overnight as his owners was not at home.”

Debbie and Theo van Stryp tried giving their dogs calming medicine.

“Our poor dogs were left in a state of panic. We gave them calming medicine which did not help much. On the first day of the New Year, our animals have to suffer through the side effects of the medicine and all this just because of some people who waste their money on fireworks. It is really ridiculous.”

Diamonda Harvey from Pretoria North wrote on Rekord’s Facebook page her heart broke for her dogs who could not calm down during the shooting of fireworks. “Our traumatised dogs ran up and down in our house. They shivered and howled the whole night through,” she said.

Tshwane metro police executed the festive season’s operational plan by focusing on businesses selling fireworks and the illegal use of fireworks.

Rick Allan, Tshwane SPCA managing director, said Tshwane SPCA received a complaint from the public regarding alleged illegal firework activity in Mountain View and Eersterust. “We reported this incident to the metro who will investigate the matter. Animal’s safety, however, falls under our jurisdiction and we will investigate matters in terms of the Animal Protection Act if possible animal cruelty took place,” Allan said.

According to Allan the SPCA has not received any complaints by Thursday of animal cruelty during the festive season. “There is usually a two day delay before people lodge a complaint because they are either on holiday or they think the SPCA is closed,” Allan said. Meanwhile on the Tshwane SPCA’s Facebook page, people were posting their missing animals by the hour, most of them went missing on New Year’s Eve.

Allan confirmed that the SPCA took in around 87 stray animals during the festive season. “It is horrendous how many stray animals were found.”

“Fireworks can cause many problems for animals as they can be traumatized, run away, or get themselves caught in small areas.

“Animals are very sensitive towards sound. A dogs hearing are seven times more sensitive than humans. Cats are even more sensitive,” Allan said.

“The main factor is fear. The sound triggers a fight or flight response. Most animals get stuck in small areas when they try to get away from the noise which sometimes can be a deadly situation,” he said.

The Tshwane metro police started by-law operations to crack down on dealers selling fireworks illegally in the beginning of December.

According to these by-laws, any person who wants to sell fireworks from their business premises must have a licence from the SAPS Explosives Unit as well as a certificate of registration from the Chief Fire Officer. No fireworks may be sold at public places or from trailers and no street traders are allowed to sell fireworks.

The Tshwane metro police is working closely with other law enforcement agencies to regulate the sale and use of fireworks. Businesses selling fireworks without a certificate of registration will receive a spot fine of R2 500 with an additional fine for any other fire safety violations found.

People who want to use fireworks for private and professional firework displays, must apply at the offices of the Chief Fire Officer for permission. This will ensure that fireworks are used in a safe manner and will not constitute a fire hazard.

Tshwane Metro Police spokesman, Superintendent Isaac Mahamba, said the metro police received numerous calls from the public about illegal trade or use of fireworks but no arrests have been made yet.

“Police are investigating the complaints now and will report on these matters,” Mahamba confirmed.

According to Mahamba all of their officers were busy monitoring a riot in Shoshanguve on New Year’s eve and was unable to attend to complaints immediately.

Tshwane metro advised that all matters relating to dead animals lying in the street and open public places should be reported to the municipal Environmental Health Services one-stop centre at 012-358-4656.

In the case of impounded animals which may have been classified as strays, Tshwane has appointed a service provider who can be contacted at 012-328-2893, to check whether the animal has been impounded.

All matters relating to cruelty to animals remains the responsibility of the SPCA.