Bonfire Night Pet Safety: Fireworks Law and Tips

The best way to protect a pet on Bonfire Night is to prepare in the weeks before 5 November. Plan a quiet, safe space indoors, check your pet’s microchip, and talk to your vet early if your animal is anxious. On the night itself, keep your pet indoors, keep the curtains closed, and keep the noise of the telly or radio on.

This guide covers the current fireworks rules, what the government is considering changing, and the steps the RSPCA recommends for dogs, cats and small animals.

The fireworks law at a glance

The GOV.UK guidance on fireworks law sets out the main rules for members of the public. These are the ones that matter most in November:

The guidance covers England and Wales. I could not check the rules for Scotland or Northern Ireland, so if you live there, look up your local rules before you buy or set off any fireworks.

What the government is considering

The government ran a consultation on fireworks and pyrotechnics. It opened on 16 July 2026 and closed at 11:59pm on 7 October 2026. The consultation page on GOV.UK lists the main proposals:

• Restricting the noisiest fireworks to professional displays, so the general public would not have access to them.
• Adding products that pose unacceptable safety or security risks to the banned list.
• Reviewing the rules for lower-risk fireworks, including whether the age limit for buying Christmas crackers should be removed.

The consultation does not propose a full ban on public use, a national notification system, or mandatory registration of displays.

As of October 2026, the government had not published its response. Any change would need a government decision first, so the rules above still apply to this year’s Bonfire Night. Check the consultation page for updates.

Why fireworks are hard on pets

The RSPCA explains that fireworks can reach 120 to 175 decibels, and animals hear more sensitively than people do. Fear, stress and injury are common. Pets may also bolt through a gap in a fence or door, which is one of the biggest risks on the night.

Before 5 November: a checklist

Start these steps at least a few weeks ahead:

1. Check the microchip. Dogs must be microchipped by law, and so must cats from 20 weeks old. Make sure your contact details are up to date, because a chip is only useful if the registry can reach you.
2. Set up a safe space. Create a cosy, familiar hideaway with bedding and favourite toys. Dogs should be able to reach it at all times. Cats can use high spots, boxes or the space under a bed.
3. Plan walks. Walk dogs in daylight, well before the evening fireworks start.
4. Secure the house. Block the cat flap, keep cats indoors after dark, and make sure doors and gates are closed.
5. Move small pets inside. If rabbits, guinea pigs or other small animals live in an outdoor hutch, bring them indoors if you can. If they must stay outside, cover the hutch with blankets, leave room for air, and turn it to face a wall.
6. Ask your vet about calming aids. Pheromone diffusers can help. Vets can also prescribe medicine for dogs. Diffusers work best when you start them weeks in advance.
7. Consider gradual desensitisation. The RSPCA suggests a slow, step-by-step introduction to firework sounds, started well in advance. Your vet or a behaviourist can advise on how to do it safely.

On the night

• Close the windows and curtains to block out flashes and some of the noise.
• Play music or the television to mask the bangs.
• Stay close to your pet and act normally. Your calm presence helps, but do not force a pet out of hiding.
• Keep small animals with their companions. Rabbits and rats should not be separated.
• Never shout at or punish a frightened pet. This makes fear worse.
• Do not tie a dog up outside, leave it in a car, or take it to a display.

Signs of distress

After the fireworks

Comfort your pet if it looks for attention, and offer treats or its favourite food. Keep the normal routine as much as you can. If your pet’s appetite changes, or the fear lasts longer than a day or two, speak to your vet. A clinical animal behaviourist can help if the fear is long-term.

Key points

• The law bans setting off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, with a midnight cut-off on 5 November.
• Plan a quiet, safe space and check your pet’s microchip before the night.
• Keep dogs indoors, walk them in daylight, and keep cats in after dark.
• Start calming aids and desensitisation weeks before 5 November, not on the night.
• The government consultation closed on 7 October 2026, and no decision had been published as of October 2026.

FAQ

What time can I set off fireworks on Bonfire Night? The cut-off on 5 November is midnight. Outside the exceptions, setting off fireworks between 11pm and 7am is prohibited.

Can I buy fireworks at any time of year? No. Private buyers can buy from registered sellers from 15 October to 10 November, from 26 to 31 December, and in the three days before Diwali and Chinese New Year. Outside those windows, you can only buy from licensed shops.

My dog is terrified every year. What can I do? Ask your vet about calming options, including medicine and pheromone diffusers. A behaviourist can help with a long-term plan.

Is my rabbit safe in an outdoor hutch? Bring it indoors if you can. If it must stay outside, cover the hutch, leave room for air, and face it towards a wall.

Will the firework rules change this year? Not yet, as far as I could verify. The consultation has closed, but no government response had been published as of October 2026. Check the GOV.UK consultation page for updates.

What if my pet runs off? The RSPCA guidance focuses on prevention rather than recovery. The best protection is a secure home, a microchip with up-to-date details, and a safe space that keeps your pet calm.