UK Pet Insurance

I was reading about pet insurance in the UK and its impact on pets and pet owners. Besides information about pet insurance in the UK the magazine also had other information regarding pet medicine and general well being. Something interesting that the magazine had was about fireworks and their effect on the pet and wildlife population of the UK. Every year the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has to deal with hundreds of calls regarding firework related incidents such as terrified pets that have bolted or accidents that could easily have been avoided.

"Thousands of animals up and down the country suffer distress or injury every year because of firework noise," said Tim Miles, the RSPCA's chief veterinary adviser. "Our research shows this distress could be dramatically reduced if fireworks no louder than 97 decibels (dBAI) were available to the public for private displays."

RSPCA-commissioned research, revealed in the report Keep the noise down, concludes that a noise limit of 97 decibels (dBAI) should be set for fireworks available for private use by the public. This noise level, similar to that of a car door slamming, would help reduce the distress and suffering loud fireworks cause animals. The current noise limit is 120 decibels (dBAI) - equivalent to a jet aircraft taking off or a pneumatic drill being used one meter away.

A draft EU Directive is proposing that the noise limit of 120 decibels (dBAI) be implemented Europe-wide - this could prevent the UK government from setting its own lower noise limit in future.

"The government must ensure regulations go far enough to reduce distress to animals and a clause should be included in the EU Directive that allows member states to set their own maximum noise limits for fireworks," continued Mr Miles. "Fireworks don't have to be loud to be impressive."