fireworks and pets

[hammerhead]

Yes it has been said over and over again, but here I am again to remind people.

If your animals need any type of sedation stuff get it NOW, don’t wait.

In my neighborhood we already have people popping fireworks.

Microchop if you have not already especially the cats.

If you have in/outdoor cats,I would start getting them in at night period. Over the weekend lock them in a bathroom or a separate room. I always hear: I opened the front door and it escaped.(well if locked in another room it won’t escape that way) People have their windows open, well believe it or not a cat can pop those out, and imagine if it falls 2 stories.

It is also going to be very hot, so if your cat gets out an no access to water, well that is not good.

All of the local shelters are already full with unwanted cats and dogs. So to fill up with lost pets just puts more pressure on them.

SO please I am begging of all pet owners be diligent over your pets.

Especially since it is going to be on a Saturday.

Start taking precautions NOW.

FCAT

Share This

[WSB]

Two lost dog posts came in before 4 am today, both with suspicion fireworks spooked them.

Share This

[JoB]

To our great surprise, the bedroom window AC combined with music at fairly high volume was enough to mask the sound of last night’s firefight in our neighborhood.

Share This

[Lena]

Some suggestions to help your animal if they are afraid of fireworks that I put out each year

https://pathwithpaws.com/blog/2015/06/08/fireworks-and-our-animal-friends-surviving-the-sky-falling-down/

Share This

[anonyme]

My now-deceased pup developed severe PTSD from the onslaught of fireworks here in Arbor Heights. When I first got her, she wasn’t pleased with them, but it was manageable. After the 4th of July ‘bomb attack’ we had a few years ago(when windows, walls, and even the floors of my house rattled and shook for nearly 6 hours), my dog developed an extreme response to anything that made a pop. Every 4th I was actually afraid she might either die of fear, or an overdose of sedatives, as virtually nothing eased her panic.

Many of the fireworks scofflaws make light of this situation. In fact, it’s very serious and affects tens of thousands of pets across Seattle. The vet bills and prescriptions must cost enormous amounts when added up. The people who think this is OK are probably the same ones who view our closest companion as “just a dog”. The effect on humans is almost as bad, but at least we understand (or at least hope) that eventually it will end. It’s just mind boggling to me that so many people are not only disrespectful of the law, but of every living thing around them.

Share This

[JoB]

Lena..

you don’t have a clue how bad the effects of nonstop fireworks are for some pets and vets with PTSD.

although my dog managed last night without trying to burrow through the rug under the bed this morning’s thunderstorm had her cowering and she is now afraid to spend time in her own yard.

it’s not the single day or night of fireworks that sends our pets and friends cowering but the night after night after night that they persist for hours.

i will be taking my dog out of town over the fourth but quite frankly i can’t afford to rent a cabin in the mountains for months at a time so that I can remove my pet from the mayhem in my neighborhood..

just so my neighbors can have a good time setting off illegal fireworks.

nor can the vets in your neighborhood afford to absent themselves for that long.

instead they and our pets are traumatized.

posting a helpful video while boasting about your own fireworks display is like telling someone with terminal cancer about the cure you read about in the tabloids.

do you really think we don’t already have that information?

Share This

[mehud7]

JoB, Your response to Lena was rude. She is a veterinarian and a pet owner.

Share This

[JoB]

mehud7

I am sorry, but as a vet she should know better.

Those recommendations might work for a pet that is simply bothered by fireworks but for those traumatized by repeated exposure they are pretty much ineffective after about the first or second day.

i personally think being forced to sedate and crate my pets for a month so people can indulge in illegal activity during a high fire season is far worse than rude.

Share This

[JoB]

Lena

I re-read your post and i may have misinterpreted what you had to say.

i read your post to say that you put out fireworks each year..

not that you put out a list of suggestions each year..

if i read that incorrectly i apologize for being rude…

however, as the owner of a pet who is traumatized by fireworks the week before they are even legally sold and stays that way for the rest of the summer while idiots celebrate every score by a Seattle sports team with fireworks… I am understandably testy about this subject.

if a mild tranquilizer combined with remedies and behavioral modification was all it took to manage traumatized pets every year i wouldn’t be heading into 100+ degree heat with my pets…where extreme fire danger prohibits the use of fireworks … just to escape the fireworks in my neighborhood

along with those suggestions i wish you would state that repeated exposure to fireworks can severely traumatize some pets and that the trauma can have health effects that last far beyond the 4th.

it is getting harder and harder to find anyplace to take my four legged friends that does not expose them to days of fireworks regardless of strong rules banning their use because too many people think you can just medicate them and the problem goes away.

If only it was that simple

Share This

[anonyme]

Lena is an awesome holistic vet who cared for my beloved pup during the last year of her life. She is one of the most caring and conscientious people I’ve ever known; I don’t think I would have made it without her support. My dog lived a longer, healthier life because of her care, and I will be forever grateful. I was shocked to see her attacked this way, even if it was as the result of a misunderstanding.

There isn’t a single veterinary solution to this problem, as not only every pet is different, but also every neighborhood in terms of how extreme the fireworks are. My friends who live not far from the Junction have hardly any trouble; here in Arbor Heights it’s like a war zone. The problem is not a failure of one vet (as in veterinarian) or another. The failure is with our city, county, and state officials and the SPD for their refusal to uphold the law and enforce the ban against this dangerous and traumatizing activity.

Share This

[hammerhead]

JOb

yes you read that wrong. there is a typo.

I am pretty sure she meant to say: She puts out this info every year.

Not fireworks. WOW you just went off a very dear friend who was just trying to help.

I am with anonyme, you owe Lena an a full apology.

We are all sorry YOUR dogs are so traumatized that you have to leave for the sake of YOUR dogs.

Everyone who has pets has to deal with the problem.

Share This

[JKB]

Unrelated to pet care. But I’m pretty sure that most people who compare a situation to a war zone have no direct knowledge of a war zone.

Share This

[hammerhead]

JKB, true that

Share This

[JanS]

so you all know…not everyone who comes onto threads knows who everyone is. Misunderstanding someone who one does not know, and then realizing they’re wrong, means an apology is needed, and that happened…post #9?. Please remember we are not all perfect on here, and misunderstandings happen, especially when one feels strongly about something. I’m sure Lena understands that now. Let’s everyone else understand it, too.

I’m lucky…I do not have a pet, and tonight has been extremely quiet in my neighborhood. I have heard from a couple of friends that that wasn’t the case in theirs. The dimwits that are doing this need to be called out, need to be fined….but I understand that our police can’t be everywhere. Wonder if it would be possible for the state to limit better when the “safe and sane” stands could start selling. Like not until July 1st, etc. I understand that the reservations set their own rules…wish that was different , too…or wish they would card everyone going there to buy, who is not on the reservation. But…money is money…that’s what it’s all about, and I guess rules simply don’t get paid attention to becuase of it.

Share This

[acemotel]

WOW. I agree, post #6 and #8 inappropriate and rude. It’s not Lena’s fault if someone’s dogs are traumatized.

.

I thought it was very thoughtful for her to post that information. For my part, I want to thank Lena for the tip about the dog jackets, I just went online and ordered one.

Share This

[JanS]

ace…..unless one clicks on the info under each poster’s name, one has no idea who the person posting is. If you don’t already know Lena and that she is a vet, she could be the local barrista at the local coffee shop. It was pointed out to the commenter in #6 and #8 who Lena was, and an apology was given for the misunderstanding. So…that’s not enough to not have it brought up again and again?

Yes, it was thoughtful, and I’m sure JoB understands that now. But lets keep on thinking that JoB is a terrible person for dissing who it seems is everyone’s favorite vet, even after an apology. Because, you know, it makes everyone feel better. And superior. :-

Share This

[acemotel]

There’s no need to make assumptions about how I feel. I will tell you myself. How do you feel after chastising everyone who commented?

Share This

[Jd seattle]

“ace…..unless one clicks on the info under each poster’s name, one has no idea who the person posting is. If you don’t already know Lena and that she is a vet, she could be the local barrista at the local coffee shop. It was pointed out to the commenter in #6 and #8 who Lena was, and an apology was given for the misunderstanding. So…that’s not enough to not have it brought up again and again?”

Funny, similar thing happened to me a couple months back. Remember? I said a comment wasn’t worth my time because it was so inaccurate and it turned out to be a high school student posting an essay. I got lectures, finger waves and was essentially called a bully by you and JoB. Your tune sounds a little different now. What changed?

Pot, meet kettle….

Share This

[anonyme]

a·nal·o·gy

əˈnaləjē/

noun

noun: analogy; plural noun: analogies

a comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

M-80 (explosive)

The Simulator, Artillery, M-80 was originally made in the early 20th century by the U.S. military to simulate explosives or artillery fire.

I may not have seen actual combat, but when bombs (M-80’s are bombs) are being set off around your home in an onslaught that lasts for hours, causing windows and walls to vibrate, I think “war zone” is a more than appropriate analogy. Therefore, a more appropriate criticism should be aimed at the pseudo patriots performing this war farce at the expense of real vets for whom bombs represent anything but celebration.

Share This

[acemotel]

.

Share This

[JoB]

hmmm…

i make a public acknowledgment that i may have misunderstood a post and apologized if i misunderstood

and suddenly some of you take the opportunity to jump down my throat for attacking a great person and demand i apologize?

which i already did.

i don’t know how many times i can say this but attacking the person instead of the argument really isn’t much of an argument.

The “noise” in my neighborhood started last night just before dusk and it continued until after 11PM. For those who are counting that’s 2 to 3 hours of continuous booming …

The same was true the night before and is likely to be true tonight and every night until until several days after the 4th of July.

and we are not talking innocent little whistlers here on the edge of Seattle..

we are talking very loud booms… one after another… hour after hour.

While those fireworks don’t create a war zone they do create enough anxiety for anyone who is traumatized by booming sounds to significantly impact their lives.

My pets aren’t the only pets so adversely affected… nor are pets the only victims.

If you have actually been in a war zone or have been in the vicinity of lethal gunfire… the repeated booming can easily trigger PTSD which lasts long past the last boom of the night.

You can trivialize that all you want to…

but what used to be one night’s acceptable mayhem spread to public acceptance of several night’s mayhem and has now become public acceptance of illegal fireworks at any time in any place and nobody gets much sleep.

that’s what trivialization gets you.

Share This

[JanS]

jD…did you apologize to said student? I don’t remember the whole cconversation.However, what changed? A lot of things, frankly. I’m simply tired of the negative, the hate , the judgement in this world, and I’m trying to change…what about you?

I’m older than you, and I’m still learning….

Share This

[JoB]

hammerhead..

i have one question for you.

why should anyone have to manage their pets to accommodate several weeks of illegal behavior?

Share This

[Ms. Sparkles]

Not really sure how many times in how many ways JoB needs to apologize to appease some posters… but back to the original topic:

Seeing as how this is an anonymous forum, thus no real risk to those who answer honestly- will someone who does love setting off fireworks please explain what you get out of it? Does the fact that it makes many around you miserable matter? I appreciate candor – even when it might be interpreted as rude or selfish. If you answer “Because blowing stuff up makes me feel powerful & you sensitive sissies can suck it” I won’t like it, but I respect your honesty & self awareness.

Any bold takers?

Share This

[Lena]

Forgot the commas, I am dealing with a neurologic issue that makes typing hard for me. Thank you for everyone jumping to my defense.

Share This

[Author]

Posts