Love them or hate them, fireworks are back for another year, and with them the steady stream of safety messages for you and your pets.

Yesterday marked the start of a strict four-day only sale period for fireworks which ends on Wednesday – Guy Fawkes Day.

Fire officer Kevin Cowper is urging people to enjoy guy Fawkes day in a 'responsible and safe manner”.

Wednesday night will see the Bay of Plenty skies light up with the array of lights and firework designs, before an annual public display goes ahead this Friday.

St Mary's Catholic School, Tauranga is hosting their annual public gala and fireworks display – letting off fireworks from a barge 20 to 30m into the estuary at the end of Thirteenth Ave.

Tauranga Fire Brigade senior station officer Kevin Cowper says the key message from firefighters is to have a good time but do so in a 'responsible and safe manner”.

Since 2006 when restrictions around fireworks sales were implemented, the number of firework-related fires has more than halved, dropping from 413 to 145 in 2013,

'First and foremost we want people to be safe when using fireworks,” says Kevin.

'We are not necessarily wanting to spoil people's fun, but fireworks do cause a lot of unnecessary fires and worse still they cause a lot of unnecessary injury.”

ACC claims for injuries in the Western Bay of Plenty rose one from 2012 to 2013 – 36 to 37 – but the cost of claims decreased.

After a relatively small 2011 – 19 claims and $10,870 – claim costs nearly trebled in 2012 to $28,194 before dipping to $20,873 last year.

Nationwide claims for injuries increased from 444 in 2012 to 493 in 2013, costing $226,157 in firework-related claims.

Rather than purchasing fireworks, Kevin encourages the public to attend public displays, cutting out any element of danger when it comes to lighting fireworks at home.

'At the end of the day you get more bang for your buck,” he says.

'You might spend $40 on a box that would only last half-an-hour. Whereas you pay $10 go to a public display and you get a better spectacle for less money and it's far safer as well.”

For people opting to purchase their own, the usual safety messages apply. Read the instructions with a torch not a lighter or match, use wide open spaces away from houses and have a bucket of water or a hose at the ready.

Tauranga and Western Bay pet owners are also being asked to be vigilant about protecting their animals during the fireworks silly season.

Fireworks can be great fun for families but they can also cause great distress for pets and their owners.

Staff at Tauranga Vet's four branches in Te Puna, Katikati, Papamoa Village and Cameron Road field dozens of enquiries from owners asking how they can best support their terrified pets in the build up to Guy Fawkes Day.

Dr Tony Austwick, a veterinarian with 18 years' experience, says many owners report behavioural changes in their animals due to the stress caused by fireworks and their loud noises.

The problem is compounded by the fact that there is no 'set” day for fireworks to be let off, with the fireworks season going on for several days – and in some communities – weeks.

'Some animals react to fireworks in the same way that they react to the loud bang associated with gun shots or thunder during a bad storm,” he says.

'Dogs can even be destructive in their attempts to find somewhere they feel safe and this can cause physical damage to property as well as themselves.”

Pets cope best indoors in a quiet, secure environment. Dogs and cats may find their own safe place to hide away in the house but others will benefit from distraction with toys, music or the sound of a television.

Dogs not allowed inside should be kept in a secure kennel and collared with a tag clearly identifying their home address should they escape. Ideally, dogs should be microchipped and registered to ensure that if they are picked up by authorities, they can be scanned and returned to their owner.

Stronger, prescription-only sedatives can also be given to animals if they become acutely stressed.

Tips for staying safe around fireworks:

Use a torch to read fireworks' instructions.

Never let children light fireworks.

Safely dispose of any fireworks which don't ignite.

Keep a bucket of water or a hose handy.

Bring your pets inside as fireworks terrify animals.