THE POTENTIALLY fatal impact of fireworks on family pets has been highlighted by a Wharfedale MP.

Alex Sobel (Lab, Leeds North West) cited the tragic case of Queenie, an Otley dog, during a Parliamentary debate about the sale of fireworks to the public.

Queenie became so traumatised by fireworks set off near her home, on Manor Street, last month that she had to be put down.

Addressing fellow MPs last week, Mr Sobel said: “My constituents the Snell family had a dog, Queenie, who became increasingly sensitive to fireworks.

“A firework went off right by their house on the Wednesday after bonfire night, and Queenie became so inconsolable that she had to be euthanised.

“Does my honourable friend agree that we should be licensing individuals to operate fireworks, and that only they should be allowed to buy them?”

The debate came about after a petition, calling for firework sales to be restricted to licensed venues, was signed by more than 294,000 people.

The petition claims fireworks are ‘a nuisance...which ‘scare animals, young children and people with a phobia’ and injure thousands each year.

The Government responded by saying it believes existing legislation is sufficient to control the use of fireworks by the public.

Queenie’s owner, Phil Snell, expressed his appreciation online for Mr Sobel’s efforts to get the law changed, but sees little prospect of that happening.

He said: “There has been a debate in Parliament about the issue and the members, including Alex - who raised the sad story of our Queenie - seemed unanimous in the view that fireworks should be restricted to public displays or/and made quieter, with a few other good proposals in between.

“The current noise limit is 120 decibels, 10 decibels above the threshold of pain. It’s unsurprising that every constituency reveals a sad story resulting from these ‘bombs’.

“Also raised was the issue of the fire and police services who come under attack from hooligans with fireworks, and the general problem of enforcement of the existing curfew.

“This, in my view, is mostly due the the Government’s ideological squeeze on local authorities and the country as a whole.”

He added: “I got the impression that the issue is likely to fizzle out like a dud sparkler, despite the impressive presentation from members across the House.”