Animals deserve a fireworks-free Fourth

MPLS Star & Sickle ^ | 7-2-12 | Lindsay Pollard-Post

[TurboZamboni]

I once "oohed" and "ahhed" over fireworks, but that was before I knew how our annual celebrations of freedom wreak havoc on other species. For animals, Fourth of July fireworks aren't festive - they're frightening and sometimes even fatal. Animals' ears are far more sensitive than ours. Deafening blasts can cause them intense pain and even damage their hearing. The endless bangs and booms cause many dogs and cats to panic and jump over backyard fences, slip out of their collars, break free from their chains, dig out of yards, tear through screened windows or doors and even crash through picture windows in a frantic attempt to escape the explosions.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Setting off the fireworks outside would probably help too.

lol

[SunkenCiv]

What I want to do after reading this stupid article is, fire up the car and speed up to run down animals in the street. And I don’t even like fireworks.

How about the “call to prayer” bellowing out of mosque PA’s? What’s that do to the little creatures?

Thanks TurboZamboni.

[Fred Hayek]

Is that you, Morghanne Q.E. Wolfe-Slattery? Spoken like a true Euphorian.

[Krankor]

I always enjoy those occasional 4th of July stories where some idiot loses a finger or two while blowing something up.
It does my heart good.

[doorgunner69]

Vegetarian barbeque?? No idea how to cook a vegetarian on a grill, is it worth doing???

[rabidralph]

Jackie the Rifle Dog says, "Over my dead body!!"

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

How about a LIBERAL-FREE Fourth of July? They hate America so why don’t they just crawl up their asses where their brains are, and stay quiet for a day?

[w1andsodidwe]

It really isn't a problem for me, because I have never had the practice of taking my cats to the fireworks show. I never set off fireworks in my house, but the cats don't have a problem with neighbors doing it outside, because they are safely in my house.

I do worry about the cockroaches and termites that live outside being exposed to such harsh noise, because I can't figure out anything else to worry about. /sarcasm

[Jack Hydrazine]

Some dogs like fireworks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd-jWxUl4nc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiE09—j1uM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJOemihzUHY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysnHzJW0uBk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWrLDJlSIA8&feature=related

[TurboZamboni]

She definitely is from Diversityville.

[Aqua225]

The problem here is people who don’t pay attention to their pets properly.

My dog is deathly afraid of guns & thunder. Easy solution, I just put him in a safe place in the house, and if I can’t find one, in his kennel box. While he still shakes and shivers, he doesn’t attempt any escape or destruction. He feels safer in a hiding place or that kennel.

If people recognized what their pets are telling them, they’d take care of them better.

This article is just another way to bring people down on the 4th for celebrating the way we always have. Ie., quit shooting all fireworks, guns, etc. so the people who are too stupid to own pets don’t lose theirs. I wonder if this writer ever thought that the animals that escaped shouldn’t be with the people who own them in the first place?

[IronJack]

{whispering}Pssssst. Keep it down. You don’t want to traumatize Bambi, do ya?

[x]

Seems a little counterproductive -- people reading this might be tempted to do things they otherwise wouldn't do, just to spite the writer.

But then, a lot of the criticism is counterproductive as well -- animal-rights advocates may make greater nuisances of themselves than they otherwise would because they get off on the abuse.

The idea that having the right enemies means one must be right cuts both ways, though it's often wrong.

[Jack Hydrazine]

I think this Petey dog enjoys fireworks more than anyone else!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFP8rvp7MNc

[FatherofFive]

Animals belong on the grill or in the smoker just before the fireworks.

Yummy!

[Rebelbase]

Funny as heck! Thanks for posting those.

[aimhigh]

Our local pet store has Calm pills that work wonders on my dog. They contain vivarium root, etc.

[Harold Shea]

So far, more than two dozen Tennessee counties have a burn ban in effect, including Cheatham, Dickson, Giles, Maury, Montgomery, Sumner and Wilson counties.

It is depressing to see the farm look like it does now

[old school]

This is just exceedingly stupid. I would think that there are far greater things to be concerned about. Keep that yappin’ mutt indoors. Of course, I’ve never owned a dog that I could fit into a “thundershirt!”

[Salgak]

It’s where you grill vegetarians. Corn-fed vegetarians can be quite flavorful, when slowly roasted on a spit and slathered in Barbeque Sauce. . .