Heartbroken Keith horse owner calls for a change in the law after pony died from colic induced by firework fear
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A NEWMILL woman has launched a petition pressing for a change in the law on fireworks after seeing one of her rescue horses suffer a painful end to its life after being terrified by New Year fireworks.
Passionate animal lovers, Claire Buchannan (45) and her husband Grant moved the the Glen of Newmill seven years ago and on their 20 acre croft have dogs, horses, donkeys, cats, pigs sheep, chickens and geese which they have rescued and devote their lives to looking after.
The couple had gone to bed on Hogmanay after checking all their animals, but at midnight, Claire was woken by loud bangs and she shot out of her bed and raced to where fireworks were being let off and asked the people to stop.
But the noise had already terrified Tango, a 21 year old Welsh pony and one of five cared for by the couple. As Claire approached the stables she could hear Tango crashing its hooves against the concrete walls as he reared and bucked in fear.
She managed to release him into a field but he was sweating profusely and she could tell his heart was racing as he rolled himself on the ground.
The vet was called and diagnosed a twisted gut caused by fear induced colic and Tango was put to sleep.
Claire explained: "It could not be more rural than here. A neighbour has said that in more than 60 years there's never been fireworks, but the cottage had been let out to holidaymakers. They were not little fireworks, they were heard all round and the sky was lit up.
"The guy stopped when I asked but when I went back up towards the stable I could hear Tango, he had taken two great chunks out of a concrete wall with his hooves, just terrified."
Claire has now launched an online petition calling for a ban on the retail sale of fireworks.
She said: "Tango was utterly terrified out of his mind. To watch an animal you love die in terror and agony breaks you. We contacted police but were told no law had been broken. The SSPCA said I ought to have filmed the whole episode - I jumped out of bed and did not even dress let alone take my mobile phone to record anything.
"Year after year animals are traumatised by fireworks yet nothing changes.
"I won't let it rest with the petition, I will fight with all I have so that nobody else has to suffer such a devastating loss. I will contact my MSP Richard Lochead although apparently the control of fireworks is not a devolved matter but they must be able to exert pressure for a review of the sale of fireworks.
"I cannot let it lie and have other animals die for no reason."
The petition can be found at https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ban-the-retail-sale-of-fireworks
