Big bangs spark panic attack in poor Charlie
A heartbreaking video of a distressed dog shaking uncontrollably has been released by its owner in a bid to stop the misuse of fireworks.
Hamilton woman Fiona Macfarlane posted the harsh reality that her rescued dog greyhound Charlie faces each time he hears a firework going off.
Fiona wrote on a Facebook post:“shove yer fireworks up yer bahookie.
“This is 36 seconds out of (so far one hour) of this on the back of two big bomb-like explosions in Burnbank, Hamilton, tonight.
“I filmed him at the start of his panic and then put a blanket over him and popped a bed next to him.
“A lot of comments saying he shouldn’t be on a cold floor or I should hug him.
“He’s 36kg and unmovable in this state.
“When he rallies, he moves to the bed, then I sit with him on the floor until he comes out of this and up on the couch.
“Anyone who knows myself and Charlie knows that I only ever have his best interests at heart.
“We go through this every year and nothing helps stop the reaction (all the prescribed drugs, thundershirt, wraps, earmuffs/plugs, aromatherapy, vests, plug-ins herbal stuff, CDS etc.
“Spent a small fortune in six years but absolutely nothing takes the edge off.
“He’s now under a blanket, drooling on the floor and still shaking as much as he was 30 minutes ago (when I filmed this).
“Wish people would keep them til November 5 and they were licenced for organised displays only.”
Fiona rescued poor Charlie after he was found in a bad way, starving and injured wandering around in Chatelherault Country Park in Hamilton by a member of the public in December 2011.
The Scottish SPCA nursed Charlie back to health after he was found with open wounds and underweight.
He was later rehomed with Fiona.
Fiona said:“charlie is extra special as we had to work with him so much to rehabilitate him.
“I love a fireworks display but I just wish they were only on November 5 and licenced displays only.
“Too many people getting hold of huge explosives and being idiotic with them.”
You can watch the video of poor Charlie’s firework anguish at the Hamilton Advertiser’s website or Facebook page.