'My dog's death was caused by fireworks' - call for change to regulations

A woman whose dog ran away and was found dead after being frightened by fireworks has said tighter restrictions on their use could prevent other pet owners experiencing the same loss.

Joanne Sloan Allen's long-haired miniature dachshund, Buddy, ran off after fireworks "just started out of nowhere," startling the dog.

She said she wants a change to legislation allowing "only licensed public displays" so that owners can plan in advance to keep pets safe.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) said the current legislation provides "a robust framework".

Ms Sloan Allen, who is a show jumper, said that Buddy made off after he was let out along with the family's other dogs just after 18:00 GMT on Halloween, while she was in Edinburgh to visit her daughter at university.

After days of searching and help from social media, Buddy was found dead.

"That was the hardest thing... I'd been trying to keep it together... I just completely lost it I broke down."

Ms Sloan Allen believes that Buddy's death was caused by fireworks.

"My dog had travelled everywhere. He'd been in thunderstorms, he'd been on aeroplanes. He wasn't a dog that wasn't socialised."

Ms Sloan Allen, who is from Templepatrick in County Antrim, said that fireworks also affect her horses.

She said she has "no problem with organised displays" such as from councils, but wants to see a ban on fireworks for private use, calling them "archaic".

A set time for a display means she can keep her dogs in and can close the doors for the horses.

"It's nearly constant that you'll see fireworks at some stage going off," Ms Sloan Allen added.

She wants to see fireworks become "socially unacceptable" and for people to tell those with fireworks "Buddy's story".

"That's the easiest way for change."

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Deputy Leader Robbie Butler said politicians' inboxes were full of similar concerns, adding that he'd like to see a "consultation on the use of fireworks in the public space and in the private setting".

Butler added that there has been an "increase in terms of the volume, the brightness and the power of fireworks and unfortunately in density".

"That's having a negative impact. We have to ensure we don't overstep and become the fun police. However, the proper and appropriate use of fireworks does need to be looked at.

"Unfortunately the minister for justice has said that she's not interested in a consultation or a review. What she wants to do is increase the fines for misuse."

He said that is "not going to achieve anything" as it is hard to "prove who has used fireworks".

He said any alternatives to fireworks would be part of a consultation and said "the use of drones is really exciting".

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council have previously discussed the potential of silent fireworks or drone shows during celebrations in their borough.

In a statement the DoJ said that Minister Naomi Long "remains conscious of the impact" fireworks can have, but that she has not committed to a full review of the current legislation because it "already provide a robust framework that seeks to ensure fireworks are sold and bought responsibly for use by the public".

"However, following the recent Assembly debate and in light of public concern around misuse of fireworks, the minister has instructed officials to examine penalties and enforcement as part of the planned review of sentencing."

A valid fireworks licence is needed to buy, possess and use certain types of fireworks

Fireworks offences carry a maximum fine of £5,000 or a three-month prison sentence, or both.

Figures in a Freedom of Information (FoI) request from BBC News NI to the DoJ show that from 1 January 2024 to 30 September 2025 there was 63 convictions at court for fireworks offences in Northern Ireland.

In the same time period the FoI shows that there was "fewer than five" convictions at court for using fireworks without a licence, with zero convictions for this offence from 1 January 2025 to 30 September 2025.

There were 970 applications made for fireworks licences from 1 January 2024 to 31 October 2025.