Eamonn Holmes has spoken out about his dog’s reaction to fireworks and has called for a ban, likening it to animal cruelty.
The This Morning presenter, who adopted Collie-cross Maggie from the Dog’s Trust over a decade ago, said his pooch has been left panic-stricken in recent days by the sound of fireworks going off nearby.
Every year, by the time Guy Fawkes night arrives, the 61-year-old and his wife Ruth Langsford are left worried for the wellbeing of their pet, like so many other dog-owners around the country.
Calling for the use of fireworks to be regulated, Holmes wrote: ‘I don’t know what she thinks is happening, but the bangs and flashes scare her witless.’
‘It’s so distressing to watch. If you have a pet, you will share our helplessness,’ he continued to Best magazine.
‘It’s pure animal cruelty but nobody in charge seems to care. There’s more that could be done. Restricting the dates and hours in which fireworks can be set off is one, instead of a month-long blitzkrieg.
‘Nothing I or Ruth say will make a darn bit of difference but my dog, anyone’s dog, cat rabbit, pony or farm animal’s face or response just might. Few children will prefer a display over distress,’ he added.
The presenter has been outspoken about the issue for many years now.
Last year, he shared a picture of Maggie on Bonfire Night to his Instagram in which the dog was wearing purple earmuffs.
‘Maggie isn’t looking too happy in her Happy Hoodie, but so far so good,’ he wrote.
‘She’s not responding to the bangs. Nothing too close at the moment but normally she would be upset by what I’m hearing. I’m definitely optimistic but the night is yet young.’
Back in 2016, he also shared a side-by-side look of his dog with the caption: ‘Sad to see the top face become the bottom face because of #Fireworks last night. Here we go again….’
In the first shot, Maggie was clearly calm and relaxed while in the second picture, her eyes were wide and she had a clear agitated look on her face.
The broadcaster went on to say that he tried everything to prevent his dog from feeling scared from the noise, including blankets and treats, but nothing has worked.
Addressing the unpredictability of the fireworks in the days leading up to guy Fawkes Night, he suggested that a way to combat the fear in animals is to only allow fireworks to be used on Halloween, Bonfire Night and New Year’s Eve, allowing pet owners to put under their animals.
Metro.co.uk has reached out to Eamonn Holmes’s representatives for comment.
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