Guy Fawkes

Ash Howell from Wellington Zoo

With Guy Fawkes fast approaching we’ve teamed up with our friends at SPCA - Wellington Centre to ask residents that live close to the Zoo to please be thoughtful and respectful this year around letting fireworks off near the Zoo. Discharging fireworks near the Zoo can be very frightening for both the Zoo animals and pets around the neighbourhood. Sadly, one of our animals died last year which we believe was a result of being severely distressed by fireworks near the Zoo.

Each year SPCA receives dozens of calls relating to fireworks; including animal injuries, frightened animals, missing pets and, occasionally, abuse of animals. We encourage people to attend controlled public fireworks displays rather than using fireworks at home and ask those planning firework displays on their properties to consider speaking to their neighbours, or leaving a note in their letterbox, so that those with pets and other animals can prepare accordingly.

For the welfare of all animals, we wholeheartedly support Councillor Fleur Fitzsimons in her calls for a 2km firework exclusion zone near Wellington Zoo. Under the Wellington City Council Public Places Bylaw it is already an offence to “discharge a firework in a public place” and this includes the Town Belt and Melrose Park which backs onto the Zoo. This year there will be extra security around the Zoo on Guy Fawkes night, however you can help us even further by respecting this bylaw and encouraging your neighbours to do the same.

Together with the SPCA we want to thank all of you for your support during this time!