Fireworks bring party riot and animal abuse

Emma Craig mourns the death of Woody. Photo / Herald on Sunday

The window for fireworks sales is as small as it's ever been, but the workload on firefighters and animal welfare volunteers is not.

Fire Service shift manager Steve Smith said officers had dealt with about 500 calls across the country on Friday night, Guy Fawke's night, and described up to 90 of them as fireworks-related. Meanwhile, an SPCA spokesman was angry at instances of animal abuse and the deaths of horses believed spooked by fireworks.

Firefighters dealt with mainly minor blazes but fireworks combined with a teenage party posed a greater risk in Rotorua.

Police who turned up to deal with a rowdy party found themselves under fire from fireworks and being pelted with bottles. One officer was injured while trying to arrest a youth throwing fireworks.

The toll on animals led to a stern blast from SPCA director Bob Kerridge, who again suggested there was a strong case for a ban on firework sales to the public.

A blackbird in Nelson was found dead with battery-sized fireworks taped to its body and a horse in Clevedon had to be put down after being frightened by fireworks.

Kerridge said: "As long as we sell fireworks to just anybody, we are going to have problems when it comes to irresponsible firework use."

Meanwhile, 20-year-old North Shore woman Emma Craig is grieving the loss of her horse, who died on Wednesday after being spooked.

Woody, a 12-year-old thoroughbred, was grazing at Greenhithe Pony Club when trespassers sneaked into a neighbouring paddock and held a late-night fireworks display.

Woody took fright, charging up and down the paddock. He tripped, breaking both his front legs. When he was discovered the next morning there was nothing the vet could do.

"I arrived just before they put him down. Woody was very tired and very sore, he had been suffering all night," Craig said.

Craig was due to compete with the horse for the first time today.

"He was healthy and fit but now he's gone because of stupid people with fireworks. My life has been turned upside down," she said. "I spent time with him every night after work. That was the highlight of my day, seven days a week."