I do sometimes feel as though I am getting a bit old.

I have started making noises when I stand up or sit down and I now much prefer a chat in a quiet pub with my mates than going out to a venue where I cannot hear myself think.

So I am aware of my status as a mid-thirties grump as I pen this latest column - and I know not everyone will agree with me, but I think we need to seriously talk about fireworks.

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While today is November 5, the traditional date for fireworks to be enjoyed, you could be mistaken for thinking this particular event has been going on for a number of weeks now. Since late September I have been able to hear the bangs and whizzes of fireworks being set off close to my home.

This has obviously ramped up in recent days, culminating in the delightful image of several drunken men setting off bangers outside my house at 2am on one occasion this week.

I don't mean to sound like a killjoy but there is one mighty factor as to why I think this extended period of noise is a bad thing. My dog.

I certainly won't be the only pet owner who has come to dread this time of year. Some animals are really badly affected by the noises and flashes that fireworks create. it can cause them real harm.

Our dog Billy is a rescue dog from Romania. He had a tough start in life and was treated pretty badly and while he is in a much better mental state these days, he remains a little nervous. As you can imagine, these nerves do not blend well with a cacophony of frightening noises outside his home each night.

The result is one that will be familiar with fellow dog lovers. The painful image of my dog panting furiously and cowering in the corner of the room, desperate to get away from the noises that make him so scared.

We have tried lots of things to try and help with this - with varying degrees of success. Our efforts have ranged from playing calming classical music to an anxiety-reducing 'thundershirt'. When things are really unbearable we have had to resort to doggy Valium.

And of course it isn't just animals that feel the negative impacts of fireworks. We know that this time of year can be seriously triggering for people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, especially when it is linked to explosions or gun fire.

Now I am obviously not calling for an outright ban on fireworks, but I think it is time for some common sense restrictions around their availability.

I would back the RSPCA's stance on this, which calls for the UK government to follow Scotland's lead and change the laws so that fireworks can only be sold and set off between October 29 and November 5, with similar time limitations for other traditional dates.

The animal charity also wants to follow in the footsteps of other countries that have successfully brought in firework control zones to protect vulnerable animals and people.

The RSPCA's final call is for the maximum permitted noise level for fireworks sold publicly to be reduced from 120 decibels to 90 decibels. This is something else I would support.

This isn't about stopping people having fun, even if that is what my increasingly grumpy demeanour may suggest. I understand that plenty of people derive joy from fireworks displays, including lots of kids. These changes would not affect that.

But they would mean that nervous animals like mine were not left in a state of distress for months on end. As a nation of animal-lovers, this is surely something we should consider.

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