A Canterbury family is heartbroken after their beloved dog, Izzy, died following a fright from fireworks on the first night of sales. Reported by Stuff.
Izzy, a seven-year-old Australian Shepherd, bolted from her Darfield home after being terrified by loud explosions late Sunday night. Despite her family’s desperate search, she was found the next morning badly injured on a roadside, likely hit by a car.
Owners Gavin and Wendy Wellwood say the tragedy shows the urgent need for New Zealand to rethink its Guy Fawkes celebrations and regulate fireworks more strictly.
While Fender rushed inside, Izzy bolted, leaping multiple fences and leaving the property as explosions went off overhead.
Family immediately set out to find Izzy, including the Wellwood’s daughter Theresa Devereux, who lives nearby.
Sadly, the family got a call early on Monday to say that Izzy had been found badly injured on the side of the road around 2km from the Wellwood’s home, with injuries matching being struck by a vehicle.
Gavin and Wendy Wellwood picked her up and took her to a local vet who quickly told them her injuries were too severe and Izzy was put to sleep.
Sunday was the first day of the four-day period during which fireworks are legally allowed to be sold.
Gavin Wellwood told Stuff that Izzy’s death had affected him more than any other animal in his life, as he thought about what she experienced that night.
“I'd say with every bang she's probably just run that much faster and that much further and I'd say that's how she's ended up as far away as she did,” Devereux added.
Devereux told Stuff Izzy “had an absolutely beautiful nature”.
“She was just the kindest dog.”
She said her family was grieving too, especially her seven-year-old daughter Alice, who grew up with Izzy.
Devereux said the family knew Izzy to be reactive and took precautions, but the fireworks, coming late on Sunday night, were unexpected.
The family say it’s time for New Zealand to consider restricting fireworks to organised public displays, to save other animals from Izzy’s fate and protect other families from heartbreak.
Asked if some smaller fireworks, such as sparklers could be sold, Devereux said she feared that could be open to abuse.
“I'd hate to spoil that for everybody, but it's kind of a ‘you give an inch, they take a mile’ type of thing,” she said, admitting it “would be a shame” to ban all private sales.
She said while fireworks are still legal, people planning to let them off at home should warn their neighbours well in advance of lighting the touchpaper.
Gavin Wellwood said if they knew the there was going to be fireworks set off, he would have kept the dogs inside for longer and urged other pet owners to be especially careful over the next few days.