SPCA fears fireworks attacks on animals will continue

Photo / APN

The SPCA was last night bracing for more animal abuse involving fireworks after a spate of cruelty in the Auckland area over the past few days.

"We've had three carloads of youths turn up at a paddock in Clevedon and let off a heap of fireworks [setting] a bush and tree on fire," said SPCA chief inspector Vicki Border.

The fire caused six horses in the paddock to bolt through a fence in panic, one badly injuring its leg.

"It's bloody frustrating really and infuriating that the youths seem to get a kick out of this behaviour."

Other examples were youths lighting fireworks and aiming them at ducks, in West Auckland, and another group of youths, in Mangere, called cats over to them, only to point fireworks at them.

Those incidents follow an appalling act of cruelty where fireworks were taped to a young bird in Nelson.

Fireworks the size of an AA battery were taped to the bird, which was probably alive when they were set alight.

The tape was wrapped around the bird's body and the crackers were on its breast area. Parts of the bird's wings and neck and some of its tail feathers were charred.

Ms Border wasn't sure what could be done to stop the cruelty, which happens year after year.

"They've shortened the time period and put an age restriction on the fireworks but it doesn't seem to have made any difference ... Silly people are still getting hold of these things that are really weapons."

She said it wasn't only what they were doing to animals that was concerning. "It's what they're doing to each other. I just don't understand how they could get a kick out of it."

She expected the problem would last another week because not all fireworks would have been let off last night.

Northern Fire Communications shift manager Jaron Phillips reported a "steady" night without any major incidents.

The communication centre had extra staff on in anticipation of a busy night, he said, but the only Guy Fawkes-related callouts had been minor and related mainly to bonfires.