Sadly I agree that the RSPCA and the government are too interested in revenue to do the obvious. Fireworks not only kill and maim animals, but humans too. Yet Big Brother and "elth & safety" will ban almost any other activity when it poses no real danger to anything or anybody.

I live in a very rural area, yet fireworks are becoming increasingly common. I have known a sheep be badly burned because a rocket fell on it's back, not to mention panicking horses which can have very serious results. Not everybody can shut their horses in night after night, and even if they do, then some panic more when enclosed. A good friend lost his sheepdog, although it was shut in a van - with the window slightly down for air, whilst he was checking some stock in mid afternoon when a banger exploded overhead. The dog must have squeezed through the gap. Luckily a happy end as the dog was spotted 15 miles away the next day by an eagle eyed farmer, on it's way home, it was assumed.

Our current dogs couldn't care less which is fortunate. But then they do not have to put up with too much. Although our neighbour who is not so rural minded believes in fireworks at the end of a party, and always at midnight on New Year's Eve. The dogs might not mind but we get furious!

Do these CD's work in practice though? Or, as the previous correspondant said, it's just more money for the RSPCA. No. It cannot simulate a sudden loud bang when the dog is asleep. Previously I had one out of 5 dogs who was terrified. I do not believe anything would have made any difference to her. Even though 3 of the others were not concerned it made no difference to her at all. We also had a sheepdog prior to that who escaped through the cat flap. He was too large to go through, but he did. Luckily we found him cowering in woods only a few hours later after extensive searching.

Fireworks should be restricted to fixed, organised events, where to be quite honest, if you like that sort of thing, you gat a much better display for your money anyway.

I feel so sorry for caring owners that are beset with fireworks, and wonder how many animals actually go missing as I direct result, apart from those injured or killed.