Heartbreaking video shows Edinburgh pet shaking and hiding as youths throw fireworks outside home

Kelly Stewart, 32, who stays in the Stenhouse area of Edinburgh, filmed fireworks exploding on the ground right outside her home.

She also took a video of her much loved pet Penny, who can be seen shaking and terrified as she cowers in a corner from the noise.

Kelly explained: “We’ve tried everything to help her.

"She’s a rescue dog so we don’t really know what she’s been through before.

"You can see the change in her behaviour just before the fireworks start, like she knows its coming.”

Penny is 12 years old, previously belonging to Kelly’s father before moving in with Kelly and her two children after he passed away in 2019.

The poor pet spent six hours in the bathroom on Thursday night, shaking and frightened.

Kelly continued: “There aren’t any windows in the bathroom so I think that’s why she feels safe in there.

"We had the shower on the whole time to try and block out the bangs.”

Each year, the family try something new to help Penny through this time, and none have been successful.

"We asked the vet and they recommended these tablets but they didn’t work.

"We’ve tried more tablets from Pets At Home and they didn’t work, we tried the Thunderjack and that didn't work, we tried something we saw on Facebook where you put socks on the dogs ears, and that worked just a bit.”

The family also tried drops and a plug in which also failed to help.

Now Penny is getting a bit older, the family are extremely concerned of the levels of stress that she is under during this time of year.

"We’re really concerned about her wee heart, she gets so upset and panicked.

“It’s so distressing to see her like this.

"The fireworks can last for weeks sometimes too, last night there were teenagers letting them off directly outside as well.”

Bonfire Night was a difficult time for pets all over the Capital, with several cases of dogs fleeing fireworks and becoming lost and afraid including one in Morningside and one in Fauldburn Park.

Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent, Mike Flynn said, “Every year thousands of animals suffer stress and anxiety caused by the use of fireworks. We have been made aware of incidents over the years of animals coming to harm, or even death, as a result of fireworks. Past incidents have

included dogs and cats running in to traffic and horses impaling themselves on fences because they have tried to flee from the sight and sound of fireworks.

“There are some key things we would advise pet owners can do to help ensure their pets’ safety, and avoid any undue distress.

“These include; walking your dog earlier in the day when it is still light, avoiding times when fireworks are likely to be set off, bringing all pets inside including those usually kept outside, ensuring animals are not left home alone, and making sure all doors and windows are securely shut so that

your pet doesn’t try to run away if they get spooked”.

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