Fireworks?

SinNyx · 12-31-2013, 05:24 AM

I was wondering, does anyone's hamster/s react to fireworks, or show signs of tress due to them? Usually, when there are a lot, my hamsters seem to wake up but are never bothered, I have never seen a hamster react badly to the noise.

I thought it was interesting because I have a dog with anxiety issues and he react extremely badly, but I didn't know if a hamster could ever react like this, even though they are of course different animals.

leedsgurl · 12-31-2013, 05:32 AM

Mine don't seem to react at all. When Rosie came to my house to visit for a while, I found she was a very light sleeper and woke up whenever I entered the room (unless I sneaked in), but she slept soundly through a thunderstorm!

One of my previous litters was also born on Bonfire night and was not phased by the fireworks at all.

racinghamster · 12-31-2013, 05:35 AM

All animals in general will react with anxiety to loud bangs and personally, I hate fireworks at any time of the year. I detest the way people abuse them by not just letting them off on one day like Guy Fawkes or New Year. They seem to think that fireworks can be purchased and thrown around and let off whenever they feel the need. It should be outlawed.

But rant over with, the best action to take is to keep the radio or TV on reasonably loud (for a dog or a cat not a hamster!) and keep the blinds/curtains closed and act normally. Reactions from us can make larger animals worse. I remember when I had my Labrador as a youngster, my mother and I would actually walk him in the dark while fireworks were going off! This helped condition him and I would just keep walking and say things like "oh, big bangs!! and make light of it. Murphy was a good dog though and was never a nervous dog, so I suppose it depends on the dog. I can truly sympathise with dog owners when these events take place. It must be a nightmare trying to help them get through it.

But as long as our hammies are in a cosy room with plenty of nesting bedding and we are there for them just to be sure they are okay, or if you are going out to celebrate New Year, please do leave a radio on low just for a little background noise and leave a little lamp on in the corner with the blinds down. I`m sure they appreciate it. x

Lady · 12-31-2013, 06:22 AM

My hamster hates fireworks!! I agree that they should only be let off on one day. Around fireworks night this year, they were going off every night for 2 weeks, and I live right next door to a manor house so they were very close and loud. Hamish would come running over to me for reassurance and wouldn't move from my side, burying himself as far into my legs as he could. He was visibly shaking on one occasion. So New Year should be fun!

Perhaps I'll try the radio and see if that helps.

racinghamster · 12-31-2013, 06:51 AM

Definitely stay up if you have to, but having a TV or radio on will help if you are out. My wee robo lives in my bedroom but my bedroom is like my personal space during the day as my TV and laptop are both in here! So he always has some low background noises going on! It`s only very silent during the night. I don`t particularly like going out and leaving the house `silent`. I always leave the radio on down low! Daft I know, but it gives any hamster I have some kind of background noise if he wakes up and I`m not there.

x

icklemunch · 12-31-2013, 07:44 AM

DO NOT GET ME STARTED!!!

I think it really is about time they where banned, restricted to organised displays only on actual Bonfire night. My hammies and bunny (shes a house rabbit)are not really not bothered by them. However my Zak the Labrador so scared to the point of near collapse this year. It makes me so sad and angry that he is so scared in his own home.

Clairealex · 12-31-2013, 08:08 AM

I've found my hams don't bother about fireworks. Helicopters are another matter though.
They both hate them!

I agree with banning them now though. My boyfriends parents have a beautiful rough collie and he is TERRIFIED. He spends the whole night shaking in a cupboard or trying to sit on you. He's so desperate for reassurance. It's so heartbreaking to watch

racinghamster · 12-31-2013, 08:32 AM

On a welfare issue, I feel the RSPCA and the SSPCA and similar animal charities should lobby parliament on this issue. Farm animals have been reported also to bolt and injure themselves and pregnant animals aborting due to stress. And all this because people follow a silly ritual of a man who was basically a terrorist? And for Scots, celebrating a man who tried to blow up a Scot as he was the son of may Queen of Scots! Maybe they are a little ignorant of that fact or they are just the blind leading the blind...

I agree that fireworks should be for organised events only and never sold to the public apart from sparklers.

Clairealex · 12-31-2013, 09:44 AM

I've always been a bit confused about the Guy Fawkes tradition actually! It's tradition to burn an effigy representing Fawkes on the bonfire, but also let off fireworks to celebrate the blowing up of parliament, or what would have been. Do we celebrate him or celebrate the fact he was caught?! I don't get it!

The SSPCA did lobby a while back to help force stricter controls. This happened about the same time as the sales of it were clamped down, after the fire brigade etc were asking for the same. I'm not sure about the rest of the UK, but here in Scotland there is now a period of about 10 days before bonfire night where the sale of fireworks is legal. They can't be sold the rest of the year. Problem is idiots just stock up on them. But I have noticed a difference myself and, especially this year, felt a lot less were let off. It was raining too though, so that may have had something to do with it.

I think it needs to be restricted to organised events entirely. Apart from sparklers, as RH said. Poor animals all over the country!

icklemunch · 12-31-2013, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racinghamster

All animals in general will react with anxiety to loud bangs and personally, I hate fireworks at any time of the year. I detest the way people abuse them by not just letting them off on one day like Guy Fawkes or New Year. They seem to think that fireworks can be purchased and thrown around and let off whenever they feel the need. It should be outlawed.

But rant over with, the best action to take is to keep the radio or TV on reasonably loud (for a dog or a cat not a hamster!) and keep the blinds/curtains closed and act normally. Reactions from us can make larger animals worse. I remember when I had my Labrador as a youngster, my mother and I would actually walk him in the dark while fireworks were going off! This helped condition him and I would just keep walking and say things like "oh, big bangs!! and make light of it. Murphy was a good dog though and was never a nervous dog, so I suppose it depends on the dog. I can truly sympathise with dog owners when these events take place. It must be a nightmare trying to help them get through it.

But as long as our hammies are in a cosy room with plenty of nesting bedding and we are there for them just to be sure they are okay, or if you are going out to celebrate New Year, please do leave a radio on low just for a little background noise and leave a little lamp on in the corner with the blinds down. I`m sure they appreciate it. x

Awww bless Murphy. Zak used to be exactly the same, even sitting at the window watching them. Then he was swimming one day in the middle of October about 10am and huuuge fireworks went off. (10am in a morning is ridiculous)He panicked bless him and luckily swam back to me fine. Since then he has been terrified!!