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Pet owners are gearing up for a stressful time for both themselves and their animals as fireworks season begins.

With bonfire night and Diwali in October and November, followed not long afterwards by New Year’s Eve, there is little respite from the bangs and vibrations that can have devastating effects on animals.

People suffer as well as pets, Julie Doorne from Firework Campaign UK told Sky News.

Pet owners will avoid leaving their animals at home alone for months on end, or use up annual leave to take them away.

“People’s lives change” due to fireworks, she said.

The campaign wants an end to private fireworks. Ms Doorne says they’re not trying to cancel Bonfire Night or any other celebrations – but they want displays licenced and kept a certain distance from animals.

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Jade, with Liberty and Emma after her fall

‘I will never see her again’

Liberty, an 18-year-old from Winterbourne, has recently lost her horse Jade due to fireworks.

Jade was Liberty’s therapy horse, who helped her with anxiety, and was a gift from her friend Emma.

“Jade taught me everything. My first canter, my first gallop, she gave me the confidence in everything,” Liberty said.

“She knew when I was upset. If she heard me cry she would stand over me. When I was feeling down she would nudge me. She knew when I was at my lowest.”

In October, Jade got spooked by a firework that was let off near the field she was in.

She ran and hurt her back legs in the process. Despite Liberty trying to get her up, it was clear she wasn’t going to.

“She tried but she didn’t have the strength and in the end, she gave up,” Liberty said.

Jade had to be put to sleep.

Liberty said: “My heart is ripped apart. She was my best friend and soulmate.

“I will always remember the lowest of my days when she wouldn’t leave my side … I have no words but heartache and tears.”

“I want the whole world to know that Jadey was my life.”

Liberty wants to see a ban on setting off fireworks around livestock.

Jade would have “been here today if it wasn’t for the firework,” Liberty said.

“I will never see her again.”

Nala the cocker spaniel, for story on how bonfire night affects animals. Pic: supplied
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Nala gets very distressed around fireworks

‘Driving to the middle of the New Forest for quiet’

Rosemary, from Hampshire, has a 10-year-old horse called Rolo – and Nala, an 11-year-old working cocker spaniel.

To prepare Rolo for the fireworks, Rosemary plans to put boots on him to stop him from kicking himself and keep him in his stable.

This is the first fireworks season she’s experienced with Rolo, so she plans to “take a leap of faith” and hope he copes well.

But Nala gets very distressed.

“She barks to the point that one New Year’s Eve I drove out to the middle of the New Forest to get her as far away from the noise as possible,” Rosemary said.

She added she is forced to change her routine when she knows there may be fireworks.

“I can’t leave her on the weekend of Bonfire Night. I will always be making a decision on ‘If we go out, can I take her?’ – but we have to endure it when it’s unexpected.”

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Nelly the Boston, with her cat sisters Poppy and Pixie

‘We’re worried the stress will shorten her life’

Matt Wilke, 36, from northwest London, has a Boston terrier called Nelly, and two cats, Pixie and Poppy.

All three are rescues from South Africa, and he said the journey to bring them to the UK during the pandemic was nowhere near as stressful as fireworks are for them.

“Pixie becomes incredibly skittish and just about hyperventilates. It is absolutely horrible seeing a cat having what looks like an asthma attack and being very frightened,” he explained.

Poppy does her best to try to hide, which is worrying because “she tries squeezing herself into the smallest of spaces and we’re always so worried she will hurt herself”.

Mike also worries Poppy will “get stuck somewhere or – in a panic to find somewhere – get out and run without any idea of where she’s trying to go”.

Nelly becomes very needy, constantly vigilant and frightened of going outside.

Matt said the effects on Nelly can last for days after the fireworks have stopped.

“This undue stress simply isn’t good for her and we’re constantly worried that the stress, especially as she gets older, could shorten her life.”

Pip, an elderly dog with a fragile heart

Jane has an elderly dog called Pip.

Pip “has been petrified of fireworks all his life”, she said.

Jane added: “Every year we spend about two weeks around bonfire night unable to sleep until late as he needs comforting because he gets so worked up and frightened when he hears them going off.

“We are dreading this year as he now has a heart condition which means he collapses if he gets highly stressed or excited.

“So we feel we have no alternative but to drive us all out into the country for a few hours to get away from the relentless sound of bombs going off.

“If we don’t I fear he will have a heart attack.”

Supplied photo of Messi for story about pets and fireworks.
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Messi was so scared by fireworks he woudn’t go outside

Could Australian-style ban work in the UK?

Dog owner Jane Price recalled stressful bonfire nights with her Cairn terrier Messi.

“He would bark and get very upset,” she said.

“He wouldn’t even go outside, he was worried there was going to be another bang.”

Ms Price is originally from Australia, where there’s a ban on members of the public buying fireworks.

There’s merit to that rule, she said.

In the UK, fireworks can be sold between 15 October and 10 November for Bonfire Night and from 26 to 31 December for New Year celebrations.

They can also be sold in the three days leading up to Chinese New Year and Diwali.

But many pet owners would welcome Australian-style restrictions in the UK.

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Cody gets very agitated and scared when she hears the loud bangs of fireworks

‘It’s really difficult to calm and console’

Another concerned animal lover – Di – told Sky News her border collie cross, Cody, is “absolutely terrified” of fireworks.

“This appears to be getting worse as she grows older,” Di said.

She added: “Her reaction to them is to bark continuously, pant and pace and it is really difficult to calm and console her.

“This reaction can continue for a good while after the fireworks have subsided.”

Vet says fireworks ‘totally cruel’ to animals

The run-up to bonfire night and New Year’s Eve sees a surge of people seeking sedatives for their pets, a north London vet told Sky News.

“One month before firework night, people are coming in one after the other to get calming remedies for their pets,” she says.

Fireworks displays are “totally cruel” to animals, who have “very sensitive hearing”, she added.

“They’re put under stress and anxiety that can sometimes cause illnesses like alopecia from over-grooming themselves due to stress.”

About 14 million people in the UK attend organised firework displays each year, according to the British Pyrotechnics Association – but that number does not include fireworks set off in private gardens and fields across the country.

These displays are the real problem, according to some pet owners.

Call for organised fireworks events only

Sophie Gannon’s dog Barclay is “petrified by the noise” and “shakes” on hearing fireworks.

“I don’t think they should sell fireworks at all. I think it should just be organised events only,” she tells Sky News.

The RSPCA receives about 400 calls from concerned pet owners every bonfire night, and in 2019 launched its Bang Out Of Order campaign, calling for changes to firework laws.

It wants the sale of fireworks restricted to between 29 October and 5 November and a reduction of the maximum noise level of fireworks from 120 decibels to 90 decibels.

The animal charity has also called for the implementation of firework control zones, prohibiting fireworks near animal habitats, farms and zoos.

The charity’s research shows 73% of adults polled think firework control zones should be introduced and 75% think the firework sale period should be limited.

What are the rules as they stand?

The Animal Welfare Act does not extend to protecting animals from the effects of fireworks.

While it prohibits “any unnecessary suffering to a captive or domestic animal”, if fireworks are let off legally, their use would not be considered unreasonable.

Scotland’s fireworks laws changed in June, giving councils the power to designate Firework Control Zones where it would be illegal to set off fireworks. The impact on animals is one reason why a council could grant a control zone.

In Northern Ireland, anyone who wants to buy, possess, and use fireworks (except indoor fireworks and sparklers) must have a valid fireworks licence.

In 2019, the House of Commons petition committee published a report on fireworks after more than 750,000 people signed a petition demanding a change to the laws.

In response, the government agreed to coordinate a major public awareness campaign, but stopped short of accepting recommendations – including introducing decibel limits and empowering local councils to enforce firework permits.

Another petition calling for tougher regulations gained more than 15,000 signatures in advance of this year’s Bonfire Night.

The government responded by saying it has “no plans to ban the sale of fireworks to the public but continues to monitor the situation”.

A government spokesperson added: “We believe the majority of individuals use fireworks safely and appropriately.

“The government understands that people want to enjoy fireworks. We believe that the legislative framework controlling fireworks strikes the right balance and we have no plans to replace it at this time.”

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Teen arrested after Kayden Moy dies following ‘disturbance’ at beach in Ayrshire

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Teen arrested after Kayden Moy dies following 'disturbance' at beach in Ayrshire

A teenager has been arrested after a 16-year-old boy died following reports of a “disturbance” at a beach in Ayrshire.

Kayden Moy was found seriously injured by officers at Irvine Beach at around 6.45pm on Saturday.

The teenager, from East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, was taken to hospital but died in the early hours.

Police Scotland said on Sunday evening that a 17-year-old boy had been arrested and enquires were continuing.

Officers believe the incident may have been filmed and have urged witnesses and anyone with information to come forward.

Kayden Moy. Pic: Facebook
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Kayden. Pic: Facebook

Pic: iStock
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The incident happened at Irvine Beach in Ayrshire, Scotland. File pic: iStock

Detective Chief Inspector Campbell Jackson said: “An extensive investigation is under way to establish the full circumstances surrounding this death.

“Our officers are supporting the boy’s family at this very difficult and heartbreaking time.

“From our investigation so far, we know there were a number of people on the beach around the time of the disturbance.

“We believe several of them were filming at the time and may have footage of what happened.

“I would urge people to review the footage they have and contact police if they think the footage captured could be of significance to our investigation.”

This can be submitted anonymously, the force said.

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Superintendent Jim McMillan added: “We understand this death will be of great concern for the local community, but please be assured that we are doing everything we can to identify those involved.

“There will be additional patrols in the area as we carry out our enquiries and anyone with any concerns can approach these officers.”

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Post-Brexit EU reset negotiations ‘going to the wire’, says minister

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Post-Brexit EU reset negotiations 'going to the wire', says minister

Negotiations to reset the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU are going “to the wire”, a Cabinet Office minister has said.

“There is no final deal as yet. We are in the very final hours,” the UK’s lead negotiator Nick Thomas-Symonds told Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.

On the possibility of a youth mobility scheme with the EU, he insisted “nothing is agreed until everything is”.

“We would be open to a smart, controlled youth mobility scheme,” he said. “But I should set out, we will not return to freedom of movement.”

Politics latest: PM outlines ‘benefits’ for UK from closer EU ties

The government is set to host EU leaders in London on Monday.

Put to the minister that the government could not guarantee there will be a deal by tomorrow afternoon, Mr Thomas-Symonds said: “Nobody can guarantee anything when you have two parties in a negotiation.”

But the minister said he remained “confident” a deal could be reached “that makes our borders more secure, is good for jobs and growth, and brings people’s household bills down”.

“That is what is in our national interest and that’s what we will continue to do over these final hours,” he said.

“We have certainly been taking what I have called a ruthlessly pragmatic approach.”

On agricultural products, food and drink, Mr Thomas-Symonds said supermarkets were crying out for a deal because the status quo “isn’t working”, with “lorries stuck for 16 hours and food rotting” and producers and farmers unable to export goods because of the amount of “red tape”.

Asked how much people could expect to save on shopping as a result of the deal the government was hoping to negotiate, the minister was unable to give a figure.

Read more:
What could a UK-EU reset look like?
Starmer’s stance on immigration criticised

On the issue of fishing, asked if a deal would mean allowing French boats into British waters, the minister said the Brexit deal which reduced EU fishing in UK waters by a quarter over five years comes to an end next year.

He said the objectives now included “an overall deal in the interest of our fishers, easier access to markets to sell our fish and looking after our oceans”.

Turning to borders, the minister was asked if people would be able to move through queues at airports faster.

Again, he could not give a definitive answer, but said it was “certainly something we have been pushing with the EU… we want British people who are going on holiday to be able to go and enjoy their holiday, and not be stuck in queues”.

PM opens door to EU youth mobility scheme

A deal granting the UK access to a major EU defence fund could be on the table, according to reports – and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appeared to signal a youth mobility deal could be possible, telling The Times that while freedom of movement is a “red line”, youth mobility does not come under this.

The European Commission has proposed opening negotiations with the UK on an agreement to facilitate youth mobility between the EU and the UK. The scheme would allow both UK and EU citizens aged between 18 and 30 years old to stay for up to four years in a country of their choosing.

Earlier this month, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told Phillips a youth mobility scheme was not the approach the government wanted to take to bring net migration down.

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Lack of UK training ‘big driver of net migration’

When this was put to him, Mr Thomas-Symonds insisted any deal on a youth mobility scheme with Europe will have to be “smart” and “controlled” and will be “consistent” with the government’s immigration policy.

Asked what the government had got in return for a youth mobility scheme – now there had been a change in approach – the minister said: “It is about an overall balanced package that works for Britain. The government is 100% behind the objective of getting net migration down.”

Phillips said more than a million young people came to the country between 2004 and 2015. “If there isn’t a cap – that’s what we are talking about,” he said.

The minister insisted such a scheme would be “controlled” – but refused to say whether there would be a cap.

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‘It’s going to be a bad deal’

Shadow cabinet office minister Alex Burghart told Phillips an uncapped youth mobility scheme with the EU would lead to “much higher immigration”, adding: “It sounds very much as though it’s going to be a bad deal.”

Asked if the Conservatives would scrap any EU deal, he said: “It depends what the deal is, Trevor. And we still, even at this late stage, we don’t know.

“The government can’t tell us whether everyone will be able to come. They can’t tell us how old the young person is. They can’t tell us what benefits they would get.

“So I think when people hear about a youth mobility scheme, they think about an 18-year-old coming over working at a bar. But actually we may well be looking at a scheme which allows 30-year-olds to come over and have access to the NHS on day one, to claim benefits on day one, to bring their extended families.”

He added: “So there are obviously very considerable disadvantages to the UK if this deal is done in the wrong way.”

Jose Manuel Barroso, former EU Commission president, told Phillips it “makes sense” for a stronger relationship to exist between the European Union and the UK, adding: “We are stronger together.”

He said he understood fishing and youth mobility are the key sticking points for a UK-EU deal.

“Frankly, what is at stake… is much more important than those specific issues,” he said.

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Teenager living in ‘continuous pain’ after surgeon Dr Yaser Jabbar carried out ‘inappropriate’ operations

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Teenager living in 'continuous pain' after surgeon Dr Yaser Jabbar carried out 'inappropriate' operations

A 15-year-old boy who was operated on twice by a now unlicensed Great Ormond Street surgeon is living with “continuous” pain.

Finias Sandu has been told by an independent review the procedures he underwent on both his legs were “unacceptable” and “inappropriate” for his age.

The teenager from Essex was born with a condition that causes curved bones in his legs.

Aged seven, a reconstructive procedure was carried out on Finias’s left leg, lengthening the limb by 3.5cm.

A few years later, the same operation was carried out on his right leg which involved wearing an invasive and heavy metal frame for months.

He has now been told by independent experts these procedures should not have taken place and concerns have been raised over a lack of imaging being taken prior to the operations.

Dr Yasser Jabbar. Pic: Linkedin
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Yaser Jabbar rescinded his UK medical licence last year. Pic: LinkedIn

His doctor at London’s prestigious Great Ormond Street Hospital was former consultant orthopaedic surgeon Yaser Jabbar. Sky News has spoken to others he treated.

Mr Jabbar also did not arrange for updated scans or for relevant X-rays to be conducted ahead of the procedures.

The surgeries have been found to have caused Finias “harm” and left him in constant pain.

“The pain is there every day, every day I’m continuously in pain,” he told Sky News.

“It’s not something really sharp, although it does get to a certain point where it hurts quite a lot, but it’s always there. It just doesn’t leave, it’s a companion to me, just always there.”

Read more:
Girl who had leg amputated suffered harm during surgeon’s care
Child, 11, in wheelchair after surgeon’s operations

Hospital accused of ‘covering up’ concerns about suspended surgeon

Finias Sandu's surgery pictures
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Finias’s surgery pictures

Care of over 700 patients being assessed

Mr Jabbar rescinded his UK medical licence in January last year after working at Great Ormond Street between 2017 and 2022.

The care of his 700-plus patients is being assessed, with some facing corrective surgery, among them Finias.

Finias Sandu in hospital

“Trusting somebody is hard to do, knowing what they have done to me physically and emotionally, you know, it’s just too much to comprehend for me,” he said.

“It wasn’t something just physically, like my leg pain and everything else. It was emotionally, because I put my trust in that specific doctor. My parents and I don’t really understand the more scientific terms, we just went by what he said.”

Finias Sandu in hospital

Doctors refused to treat Finias because of his surgeries

Finias and his family relocated to their native Romania soon after the reconstructive frame was removed from his right leg in the summer of 2021.

The pain worsened and they sought advice from doctors in Romania, who refused to treat Finias because of the impact of his surgeries.

Finias Sandu in hospital

Dozens of families seeking legal claims

His mother Cornelia Sandu is “furious” and feels her trust in the hospital has been shattered. They are now among dozens of families seeking legal claims.

Cyrus Plaza from Hudgell Solicitors is representing the family. He said: “In cases where it has been identified that harm was caused, we want to see Great Ormond Street Hospital agreeing to pay interim payments of compensation for the children, so that if they need therapy or treatment now, they can access it.”

Finias Sandu in hospital

Finias is accessing therapy and mental health support as he prepares for corrective surgery later in the year.

A spokesperson for Great Ormond Street Hospital told Sky News: “We are deeply sorry to Finias and his family, and all the patients and families who have been impacted.

“We want every patient and family who comes to our hospital to feel safe and cared for. We will always discuss concerns families may have and, where they submit claims, we will work to ensure the legal process can be resolved as quickly as possible.”

Finias Sandu with his mother and sister
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Finias with his mother and sister

Service not ‘safe for patients’

Sky News has attempted to contact Mr Jabbar.

An external review into the wider orthopaedic department at the hospital began in September 2022.

It was commissioned after the Royal College of Surgeons warned the hospital’s lower limb reconstruction service was not “safe for patients or adequate to meet demand”.

The investigation is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

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