The uncontrolled use of fireworks must be banned, the National Council of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said on Monday.
”The effect on animals last night [New Year’s Eve] was horrific, absolutely horrific… the police workload is such that they cannot be expected to respond to calls about the illegal use of fireworks, the only solution is to ban them [fireworks],” said spokesperson Chris Kutch.
She said the SCPA was not opposed to the controlled use of fireworks, which were a key ingredient in New Year festivities across the world, but said the problem was the ”backyard, hooligan, random” use of fireworks.
”A dog for example has extremely sensitive hearing, so sensitive it can hear a grasshopper eat … dogs jump through glass, run into electric fences and can even become impaled on fences as they run in fear of the noise.”
Identi-Pet, an animal tracking service, reported that figures on pets that went missing on New Year’s Eve shot up by 50% from the same period last year, said Kutch.
Metro police on Saturday warned that a fine of up to R2 000 could be imposed on people who break the rules set down for the use of fireworks.
Spokesperson Wilfred Kgasago said fireworks that were illegally exploded in residential areas could land people celebrating the New Year in trouble. – Sapa