GREAT GARDENS
The Kerikeri Garden Safari was a great success yet again. New World as the major sponsor worked well with Kerikeri
Rotary, making the Garden Safari such a special event for this town.
Thank you Kerikeri Rotary and Chairman Doug Galbraith for such excellent organisation; the gardens offered by the Kerikeri Garden Safari were a great assortment over the two days, making the visits a joy for spectators. I do not understand why Guy Fawkes is even celebrated in NZ.
Is its history taught in schools these days? I doubt it, and why celebrate violence anyway? It’s not like ANZAC’s in war, or anything heroic.
I had no animals personally affected this year, as my dog is indoors. But over 30 years ago, it was a big problem in Hamilton, when I owned valuable, precious horses. One got out and was fatally injured.
Horses are some of the most vulnerable, they can be extremely flighty. We cannot close them in the lounge safely at home, nor do most owners have access to safe stabling, or are even able to stay over night with their horse.
It was expected that limiting sales to a short period would help. What nonsense.
Many people simply buy extra, and store them for Christmas, New Year, their granny’s birthday or whatever ridiculous reason to let them off, which doesn’t give animal owners any warning.
If they must remain, they should be for public displays only, and the proceeds should go to charities, the SPCA, or the fire service. We’ve all seen the Westerns where a clap of thunder spooks cattle into a wild-eyed stampede.
So it’s not hard to imagine how the screeches and flashes of fireworks can panic farm animals.
Domestic dogs and cats might run for cover under the sofa. Cows, sheep, horses and other farm animals out in the paddocks don’t have that option, and Guy Fawkes celebrations can panic them into bolting.
They can injure themselves, get tangled in fences and if they do break free, they can cause accidents with motorists.
As more urban areas push out into farmland, it’s an issue those on the city/rural fringe need to think about.
The NZ Veterinary Association has highlighted two past fireworks cases where a panicked dog ran until the pads of its feet were worn bloody, and a horse that had to be euthanised after it spent a night trapped in a barbed wire fence.
Fireworks displays in the Northern Hemisphere are in autumn.
But here it’s spring, the breeding season for farm animals and horses, which are out in the paddocks with the calves, lambs and foals at foot.
Federated Farmers are urging all New Zealanders to remember the animals as they let off their crackers and skyrockets.
Let your neighbours know if you’re thinking about celebrating with fireworks. Or check out organised displays instead.
If it’s practical, farmers might think about moving animals away from any where they are planning to hold their fireworks celebrations.