Dogs Trust Glasgow 'incredibly disappointed' as Firework Control Zone rejected by council

Fireworks at Strathclyde Country Park
-Credit: (Image: Wishaw Press)


An animal charity has said it is 'incredibly disappointed' that a Firework Control Zone around its Glasgow rehoming centre will not be in place ahead of this year's firework season.

An application was submitted by Dogs Trust to Glasgow City Council in June to consider the establishment of a Firework Control Zone at their rehoming centre in the Broomhouse area. This would put restrictions on the use of fireworks in the area, limiting the private use of fireworks. Organised, public displays would still be permitted.

The charity claimed that dogs within the centre felt anxiety and distressed each year around Bonfire Night. They said they had been subject to anti-social behaviour, with fireworks aimed at the centre so that they explode directly above the kennels housing the dogs in its care.

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Last month, it was confirmed an application for the creation of a Firework Control Zone had been unsuccessful following a public consultation and consideration by a panel consisting of Glasgow City Council, Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Dogs Trust appealed this decision, stating that the Scottish Government's guidance on implementing Firework Control Zones says the impact of unpredictable fireworks on animals is grounds for establishing a zone.

However, Glasgow City Council has since confirmed that while the application will be reviewed, there is not enough time to review and implement a zone by Bonfire Night 2024

According to the Dogs Trust's National Dog Survey, 45% of owners report that their dogs aren’t always calm when fireworks are set off.

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Laura Foster, Associate Director of Rehoming at Dogs Trust, says: “Fireworks season is a really difficult time for dogs in our care, with many of them traumatised by the noise from fireworks. Our Glasgow rehoming centre is particularly affected as it is located in a residential area, where private displays are frequent and unpredictable.

"Sadly, our centre has also had problems with the anti-social use of fireworks where people have deliberately set off fireworks next to the centre, purposefully aiming them to explode above the dogs’ kennels. This sort of behaviour is completely unacceptable and causes our dogs a great deal of distress.

“We don’t understand the reason behind the initial refusal of our application; Scottish Government's guidance on implementing Firework Control Zones clearly states that the impact of unpredictable fireworks on animals is grounds for establishing a zone. That, combined with the anti-social incidents we have experienced, provides reason enough for a successful application.

"The establishment of a Firework Control Zone would have made a huge difference to the dogs in our care, so it’s incredibly disappointing that our initial application was unsuccessful, and now there is not enough time for the panel to review our appeal ahead of the impending firework season.

“We urge Glasgow City Council to review our appeal as soon as possible, and hope that those reviewing our application will seek advice and guidance from animal welfare professionals to ensure that the impact of fireworks on our dogs is considered before making a final decision.”

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