Registered sellers in England and Wales can sell fireworks from 15 October, with Bonfire Night on Thursday 5 November, Diwali in early November and New Year’s Eve following close behind. For pet publishers, retailers and owner communities, this period brings an annual surge in search traffic as owners look for advice on frightened dogs and autumn walk hazards. It is also a prime window to monetise seasonal guides with pet insurance comparison.
What is classed as fireworks season
In England and Wales, GOV.UK guidance states that fireworks must not be set off between 11pm and 7am. The exceptions are Bonfire Night, when the cut-off is midnight, and New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, when it extends to 1am. Registered sellers can sell fireworks from 15 October to 10 November, and again from 26 to 31 December.
Scotland sets its own hours where adult fireworks may be used in private places between 6pm and 11pm, with a later cut-off on the same four nights. In Northern Ireland, a valid fireworks licence is required.
For editorial teams, these retail and display dates create two publishing windows in mid-October and late December where seasonal safety content attracts consistent organic traffic.
How large is the pet audience during fireworks season?
The PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report 2026, compiled with YouGov, estimates there are 11.3 million pet cats, 10.2 million dogs and around 700,000 rabbits in the UK.
Fear of fireworks is widespread among dogs. In the Dogs Trust 2024 National Dog Survey, 26% of owners said their dog rarely stayed calm when hearing fireworks. The charity’s fireworks guidance of 6 October 2026 adds that almost half of owners say their dog reacts to loud noises with signs of fear and anxiety.
Which autumn hazards sit alongside fireworks in pet content?
Seasonal pet content covers more than noise anxiety. Editors typically run three main types of autumn safety guides alongside fireworks coverage:
- Autumn walk hazards for dogs: PDSA notes that conkers and acorns are toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting and intestinal blockages, though serious poisoning is uncommon. It also warns that some wild fungi can be very toxic.
- Antifreeze poisoning for cats: Ethylene glycol in car antifreeze tastes sweet to cats. According to PDSA, it can cause severe kidney damage even in small amounts.
- Bolting and microchip compliance: Frightened pets escaping during displays is a recurring seasonal risk. All dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old, and in England cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks, with owner details kept up to date.
Where does pet insurance fit in fireworks season content?
While vet pricing and the CMA Vets Order are covered in our separate guide for pet publishers, fireworks season raises a more immediate question for readers: what does a policy cover when a frightened pet gets injured or swallows something toxic?
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) describes vet fees for illness and injury as the core cover of pet insurance. An injury caused during a panicked escape, or treatment for seasonal poisoning, could fall under that cover, subject to the policy’s terms, excess and limits.
The ABI lists behavioural issues not linked to an illness or diagnosed condition among the things pet insurance may not cover, although exact wording varies by provider. Insurers also generally exclude pre-existing illnesses or injuries that showed signs before a policy started. That means a fear-related condition first recorded on a vet’s notes this autumn could count as pre-existing if an owner takes out a new policy later.
The commercial case for a pet publisher
Seopa provides UK comparison technology through tracked affiliate links and white-label comparison tools for pet publishers and retailers.
As a pet insurance affiliate, you receive a custom tracking link for each placement alongside real-time reporting. Commission is paid monthly on quotes and leads that convert, with commercial terms agreed directly with the partnerships team based on your traffic route and product line.
Adding tracked links to evergreen articles, such as fireworks preparation guides, microchip reminders and autumn walk checklists, allows you to capture high-intent traffic in October, over New Year’s Eve and every autumn thereafter without building new pages.
Pet retailers and larger communities can also use a co-branded white-label route, where Seopa hosts the comparison journey styled to match your brand.
Talk to the partnerships team
The fireworks safety guide you already publish each autumn is a straightforward first placement.
You can review how tracked referrals work on our affiliate scheme page, or see how a co-branded journey operates on our white-label page. Let the partnerships team know which seasonal pet content you run and which animals your audience keeps, and we will show you how pet insurance comparison fits into your existing pages.
Frequently asked questions
When is fireworks season for pet owners in 2026?
In England and Wales, registered sellers can sell fireworks from 15 October to 10 November and from 26 to 31 December. Bonfire Night is Thursday 5 November, Diwali falls in early November and New Year’s Eve is Thursday 31 December. The standard 11pm curfew moves later on each of those nights.
Can a pet publisher say pet insurance covers firework anxiety?
Not as a general statement. The ABI lists behavioural issues not linked with an illness or diagnosed condition among typical policy exclusions, and wording varies between insurers. Vet fees for illness and injury form the core cover, subject to policy terms, excess and limits.
Which pets can a publisher’s readers compare cover for?
Dogs, cats and rabbits. Quotezone compares pet insurance for all three through one form. The PDSA PAW Report 2026 estimates there are 11.3 million pet cats, 10.2 million pet dogs and around 700,000 rabbits in the UK.
Can a publisher refer readers in Northern Ireland?
Yes. CompareNI compares pet insurance for owners in Northern Ireland, and a tracked affiliate link can direct NI readers there. Fireworks laws differ in Northern Ireland, where a valid licence is required, so regional content should follow nidirect guidance.
About this article
Written by
Seopa partnerships team
Insurance comparison partnerships
Fact-checked by
Seopa editorial team
Sources listed below
Last reviewed 29 October 2026Next review January 2027
Sources (7)
- GOV.UK, “Fireworks: the law”. www.gov.uk/fireworks-the-law. Accessed 29 October 2026.
- Scottish Government, “Fireworks: the law”. www.gov.scot/publications/fireworks-the-law. Accessed 29 October 2026.
- PDSA, “How many pets are there in the UK?”. www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/pdsa-animal-wellbeing-report/uk-pet-populations-of-dogs-cats-and-rabbits. Accessed 29 October 2026.
- Dogs Trust, “Fireworks are coming, prepare ahead”. www.dogstrust.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/stories/preparing-for-fireworks. Accessed 29 October 2026.
- PDSA, “Caring for your pet in autumn”. www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/blog/caring-for-your-pet-in-autumn. Accessed 29 October 2026.
- GOV.UK, “Get your dog or cat microchipped”. www.gov.uk/get-your-dog-cat-microchipped. Accessed 29 October 2026.
- Association of British Insurers, “Pet insurance”. www.abi.org.uk/policy-and-guidance/insurance/personal-insurance/pet-insurance. Accessed 29 October 2026.
How we checked this article: on 29 October 2026 we compared every date, figure and statement about the law and pet insurance cover with the sources listed above.
This article is general information for publishers and brands. It is not legal or veterinary advice, and what a pet insurance policy covers depends on its terms, excess and limits.