My dog destroyed my £2,000 wedding dress, mattress & door – it’s not her fault, selfish neighbours are costing me money
A WOMAN has revealed her dog destroyed her £2,000 wedding dress – but it’s not her terrified pooch that she blames.
Jade Fellburn’s eight-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Merry ripped up her ‘Willowby by Watters’ gown in a frenzy after becoming distressed by fireworks.
Jade, 34, says Merry is so traumatised by the loud bangs that she is too scared to go outside her home in Glasgow..
And on one occasion, her pet got so spooked she went into a cupboard and got her claws into her bridal gown.
Jade, who wore the dress when she married partner Stuart, 44, two years ago, said: “It was in a cupboard, which I thought she couldn’t get to.
“We’re already married, but it’s a keepsake that I want to pass down.
“I’ve got an ex-colleague who is a bridal seamstress, so I will get in touch with her and hopefully she will be able to repair it in someway.
“It’s a lace dress, so she destroyed a good four layers.”
Jade says fireworks around their hme often start in the middle of October and can be let off as early as 4pm.
And because of this, Merry is “too scared” to even go outside for a walk or to go to the toilet.
She said: “It’s every second day – it can start as early as 12pm in the day but it usually starts at around 4pm or 5pm.
“It’s getting earlier and earlier and I just don’t understand it, because surely you wouldn’t see the fireworks.
“She’s always been scared but she’s too scared to go on a walk and she’s too scared to go to the toilet.
“We can’t take her outside because we are scared she’s going to bolt and run away.
“When she’s in the house, she tries to dig things up and she’s destroyed a mattress, a door and a door frame.
“She’s dug that hard on the carpet on the landing, that her paws bled.”
Jade says they’ve tried to play classical music and give Merry medication to calm her down, but nothing seems to work.
The theatre technician, said: “We put classical music in every room and we’ve got some hemp oil, we are throwing anything at the problem.
“We use something called sileo, which is a sedative but that’s £85 per pot and we are about to run out of it.
“I just wish that the people who are setting off the fireworks would realise that they are costing me all this money.
“Seeing your pet in that much distress is also horrible, when you are trying to do everything to calm them down.”
Jade hopes that in the future, members of the public won’t be allowed to buy fireworks and that only public displays will be allowed to go ahead.
She said: “I’ve got no problem with public displays for November 5, Diwali or Chinese New Year.
“If we just had public displays, then it would just be a couple nights a year when they are being let off and we could get the medication as a precaution.
“I just can’t deal with people going into a shop and buying them, and then setting them off from the start of October to the end of the November.
“That’s two months where she’s terrified and we don’t know if we’ll be on a walk and there will just be a bang.”
Top tips to prepare your pets for fireworks
Animal expert Loni Loftus, director of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians, says it is vital that all pets are prepared for fireworks – not just those that have shown fearful behaviours.
Below, she shares her top tips to stop animals getting a fright over fireworks season.
- PHEROMONE SPRAYS These sprays are designed to replicate pheromones – which are chemicals that humans and animals release when they communicate. They can enhance calmness, especially when combined with other measures.
- BODY LANGUAGE Acting relaxed yourself can make a big difference. Avoid being stressed because animals will be pick up on that, they need a calm person to reassure them. And don’t leave your pet alone during the night, your presence provides comfort and reassurance.
- VISIT THE VET This could be the first step in helping to cure your pet’s fear of loud noises – but don’t wait until your pet is already distressed. Sensitivity to sound can be related to certain medical conditions, so it’s wise to check they are fully healthy. Your vet can also refer you to an accredited clinical animal behaviourist.
- ADD IN OTHER SOUNDS You can turn up the TV, depending on what programmes are on. Steer clear of noises that are just as distressing. Apps such as Zoundz could be useful – they play calming sounds tailored to the requirements of different species, or Classic FM.
- CREATE A SAFE SPACE Ensure windows and doors are locked on the night and that curtains are drawn. Create a quiet, comfortable space for your dog or cat, such as a crate or bed area that can be covered to mask sounds from outside. Add blankets, as animals burrow when scared. Fill it with toys, food and water. Get them used to this environment – don’t surprise them with it on the night.