HOW long will it take for people to get the message - fireworks and animals don't mix. If you have a pet you know what I mean.

It's not just cats and dogs that are terrified of fireworks. Sheep, cows and horses in the fields are equally affected.

I thought for a minute at midnight last Saturday night that we were going to bring in the New Year without fireworks.

But No, the I Don't Care Brigade, were up and about, totally ignoring all those pleas in the past not to celebrate with fireworks.

In my opinion there should be a law against it. Fireworks should be kept for public events, and not for frightening the animal world to death.

Read more from Barry Knott in Knott's Notes in this week's Wellington Weekly News