Successive governments, including the current Labour Government led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, have refused to heed the growing calls from animal lovers to ban the private sales of fireworks.
That’s a real shame. Let’s face it, a lot has been said about the Prime Minister because she chose to become a mother while acting as PM.
Here’s Zoe, one of Izzy’s friends, all rugged up for Guy Fawkes. She’s in a thundershirt, with ear muffs, and music and still nervous and anxious. There are lots of similar photos and videos of stressed out animals on Facebook this week.
Now I wonder if Jacinda would like it if one of these stressed out dogs was her baby, Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford? Not a nice thought, is it? I wouldn’t wish it on the Prime Minister’s baby. Maybe she and her Government shouldn’t wish it on ours.
Maybe what will get action from this government is to remind them that all fireworks are single use and disposable. Just like the plastic bags that they and their coalition partners banned earlier this year. These fireworks are filling up our landfills, too. What’s the deal, Green Party?
I’m not going to apologise if this post is a lot more ‘in your face’ than most of my posts. I’m entirely sick of the inaction. Are you?
Kathleen Crisley, Fear-Free certified professional and specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
DoggyMom.com 
We have petitioned here for years to ban the sale and use of fireworks and although successive governments haven’t taken this any further, one of the biggest supermarkets has now banned the sale of fireworks and is setting a shining example – hopefully more will follow. Hugs to Zoe and Izxy, hope they all stay safe 💜
Yes – I shared the news that Sainsbury’s has banned the sale of fireworks. We have something similar here with chains like Countdown Supermarkets. However, when there is still market demand, someone will fill it. We have pop-up businesses that operate here that sell fireworks exclusively. Sometimes, you cannot rely on ‘market forces’ to solve problems in exclusion of leadership and legislation.