The owners of Ringo, the Jack Russell, are so angry about the tragic death of their pet they treated like a son that they want others to realise the dangers of using fireworks in public.

They are calling for tighter restrictions on the sale of fireworks as more and more they are being used irresponsibly. The Bucks Herald believes the sale of fireworks should be restricted to professionally organised events, see Voice of the Paper, page 18.

Speaking on Monday night, Ringo's owner, David Broom, of Ascott Road, Aylesbury, said: "No-one set out for Ringo to die.

"It's an unfortunate set of circumstances, but it has been caused by kids running around looking for cheap thrills; they don't care about what happens as a result of their actions. It's just recklessness."

The accident happened earlier this month when Mr Broom took Ringo and Ringo's sister, Rosie, for a walk on playing fields next to Oakfield Community Centre in Aylesbury.

Unaware that youths in the park's play area were setting off fireworks, Mr Broom had both dogs off the lead.

Mr Broom, 40, a tree surgeon, said: "I should have been more aware, but I had no idea Ringo would do this. We were about 150 yards from the road, so it was inappropriate to have him on the lead. I had seen the fireworks and thought they were being set off half-a-mile, or a mile away. It was only when I saw the kids in the park that I realised. Then I saw Rosie running around in circles as if she was playing; by the time I saw Ringo by the road, it was too late."

Mr Broom, who described the youngsters as 'hoodies', was shocked by their response after he challenged them. He said: "I got his corpse, put it in the car and then chased the kids. I wanted them to explain themselves, but they didn't seem to care and didn't admit to being involved."

Do you think the sale of fireworks should be banned? Have you been affected by irresponsible use of fireworks?

To comment on this or any other Bucks Herald story, click here.

To post comments directly on this website, click on the Comment on this Story link below

Some of your comments so far:

Ok, it is down to the yob culture but while we wait for the authorities to clamp down properly on these poeple just ban the sale of fireworks. Keep fireworks to displays only. Mark Dines, Aylesbury

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Sad as the story of the dead puppy is I do not think that fireworks in themselves were the problem What lies at the heart of the story is the behaviour of the youths in question. This is a much wider and more taxing problem which affects us all and simply banning fireworks or any other articles that make use of will not solve that problem. What should be banned is the yob. That however is much more difficult and demands the attention of us all.

David Fulton
Aston Abbotts
Aylesbury

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I definitely think that the sale of fireworks should be banned.

They are sold and used far too early and by irresponsible people. I have a Golden Retriever who is absolutely petrified of them. He cowers and cries whenever they are being set off near our house. This happens every day for about a month around this time of year. He was even so frightened last year that he relieved himself on our kitchen floor.

I have a friend whose dog had to be put down because even on medication for months he could not cope with the incessant banging.



Regards
Viv Bailleux

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I am totally against the sale and use of fireworks to the public. In the wrong hands they are potentially lethal.

Animals have been terrorised by irresponsible and usually drunk people who find it amusing to frighten defenseless creatures wether domestic, farm or wild. Fireworks should be banned.

Yours sincerely

Sally Skier
Ford Village
Aylesbury

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I read the article about that poor little 7 month old puppy being killed due to fireworks being let off in the area.

I for one hate fireworks at the best of times but am amazed at the amount that is being let off already.

My poor little kitten that has recently come home from having an operation was terrified last night and I was told to keep her in warm and QUIET place to help her recover.

I don't agree with the sale of fireworks so early before the 5th November and think that individuals should be fined for letting them off and banned till nearer the 5th November.

Also people should think of others and how it does affect pets and any other animals.

Angie Benford
Aylesbury

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I have just seen you piece in the Bucks herald and totally agree with any campaign that Bucks Herald undertakes in the banning or restriction to the sale of fireworks!

Although I work in Bucks I actually live in Bicester....and this morning I was walking my dog and went into our local park and noticed a load of rubbish over the far side of the field....on closer inspection the park was scattered with used (or unused..didn't want to get that close to find out!) fireworks.....some of which look as though they had just been thrown about whilst lighted.....this park is used by children of all ages and dog walkers......and it begs belief that no one was hurt during their night of so called fun!

Why these shops are selling kids fireworks I don't know, its bad enough that adults can buy them only to impose on their neighbours a firework display in back gardens that's the size of a ten pence piece.

I would like to see Fireworks only displayed at restricted events........the fire service usually put on a good and generally are much better than any back garden effort.....

From a supporter...

Caron Pitcher
Bicester

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I'm writing in response to your cover story regarding irresponsible use of fireworks. I live in a village just outside Aylesbury and keep horses and ponies and a dog.

Last week - 2 weeks before Guy Fawkes Night - somebody was letting off fireworks in a field behind their house and only one small field away from ours where our ponies are kept. This was not young children, it was an adult with a child, who was watching from their back garden. The rockets were actually directed over the fields, followed by a `pretty' one' which ended with a huge bang.

Needless to say, the ponies were terrified (including a mare and 5-month old foal). There are also cows kept in these fields. I had to go into the field to try and calm them down but it was actually too dangerous as they were galloping around in the dark and unable to see me. One of them suffered an injury to her face but they were all terrified. As was my dog.

The village actually holds a very well organized Firework display every year, which we dread, only because of the loudness of the display. But nevertheless, it is a very popular display with lots of local support. As an animal owner/lover I would just like to say why do they have to be so loud, causing obvious fear and distress to animals living nearby.

Yours from a very worried animal owner

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In ref to article, Puppy death sparks calls for ban on sale of fireworks 24/10/07

Fireworks should be banned from the public, as long as fireworks are on sale to the public they will get into the hands of idiots who will misuse and abuse them.

Poor little Ringo has become another firework casualty, every year animals are terrified and even die, because the fear and stress that our fireworks cause.

Two examples A SOMERSET farmer is demanding compensation after a school firework display killed one of his sheep and more than 20 unborn lambs 23.7.2007.
Fireworks shock kills family's beloved dog 13:52, Sep 12 2007.
This is just a few of the many deaths that our fireworks have caused and will continue to cause every year unless we can get the government to change these firework laws. It has been an offence since 1911 to knowingly terrify an animal, so why has the government allowed the firework industry to make fireworks so loud?

Animals are not the only ones frighten by these loud bombs, babies, young children an elderly are also affected.

Fireworks also add to the pollution as they are full of chemicals and heavy metals. Fireworks sever no other purpose than so called entertainment and they are not essential to life.

All this unnecessary suffering and death could be avoided if the government would stop the sale of fireworks to the public and only allow organised licensed displays at fixed times of the year and reduce the noise levels of all fireworks to a max of 85db.

I have handed in two petitions so far calling for this to 10 Downing Street, one containing 92,835 signatures in 2003 and the other containing 129,387 signatures in 2006. this last petition resulted in a debate in the House of Commons with several bad incidence being hi lighted, the reply for the DTI. was that the 2004 firework laws had not been in place long enough to see if they are working. One other thing that the MP 's said was that their mail bags were not full of letters complaining about fireworks. SO PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP, WRITE TO YOUR LOCAL MP'S TELL THEM HOW FIREWORKS ARE AFFECTING YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR ANIMAL www.writetothem.com/ also write to me about any incidence involving fireworks and send news paper clippings as it all helps as evidence.

Thanks to you the government, fireworks can be sold and used 365 days of the year and legally let off 16 hours of every day, with an extra hour for Nov 5th and an extra 2 hours for Diwali, Chinese New Year and New Year's Eve. How do you protect babies, young children, elderly and your animals from these loud, frightening noises if you never know when or where they are going to be let off, how much longer do we have to endure this nightmare?

We have to make them change these fireworks laws, so we can return to the pleasure November 5th used to be and not the nightmare that it has become.

Teresa Kulkarni
1, Methuen Avenue
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE30 4BN
01553 775461