Ember the cat changed her mind about fireworks.

[wnylib]

Last edited Wed Jul 5, 2023, 08:21 AM - Edit history (1)

First, I am sympathetic to people whose pets are stressed out by fireworks. My sister and I had a lab mix in our teens who was very disturbed by them.

Ember's previous reactions have been aggressive defense of the home front against the loud sky monsters. During past displays, she sat on the windowsill growling furiously at them, then jumped down with the satisfaction of a job well done when they stopped.

Last night, while I read and posted at DU, she was curled up on my desktop when the random (not official) fireworks began. She sat up on full alert, ears twitching, neck stretched out to look out the window. I scratched behind her ears, kissed her head, and said, "Relax, Ember. It's ok."

She stayed on alert a little longer, then curled up again. Later, she sprawled on the couch in relaxed contentment, indifferent to the random bursts.

Her attitude was, "Meh. Just humans doing stupid things again. This, too, will pass."

[LizBeth]

1. My dog sat on the balcony while I watched. Barking at people not fireworks.

And I live smack in the middle of the city with them going off all around, two blocks from the lake where the city shot them off.

I never had a dog even pay attention to it let alone be afraid. Went on FB where a woman holding a big dog saying shaking and afraid but didn't see it in the face. Then like 20 other friends all agreeing their dog a mess too. Lying under the desk, under bed. Mine lays under the desk, couch, bed wherever I am sitting all day long. Ban the fireworks was the cry.... I am sure some dogs react, maybe. I have never seen any of my dogs, or a friend's dog, but that doesn't mean much. And sorry for one night that those pets have to be extra specially cared for while people across the nation had a few hours of fireworks. But I think some people are going to far with this.

[wnylib]

3. I don't think that people go too far with it when

they complain about the effects on their dogs. (BTW, Ember is my 7 year old, 1/4 Egyptian Mau cat.)

The hearing of dogs and cats is superior to human hearing. Some individual dogs and cats have a stronger sensitivity to sound than others do. It hurts their ears. For others, who have strong instincts for danger, the loud noise from sources that they can't identify, sets off alarm reactions of fear. They tremble with it.

It is a very sad, heartbreaking sight when a dog or cat shakes with terror over something it does not understand but which sounds dangerous.

I am fortunate that my cat is not frightened by fireworks. She has usually been angry and ready to attack the source, if she could only figure out what it is. Last night, she was not even angry about it. She's finally learned from experience that these sounds occur sometimes but are not a threat to her, me, or our home.

[LizBeth]

4. My dog has a reaction to people, other dogs, bicycles and cars.

That is a daily thing. Fireworks one a year a couple hours at night

[wnylib]

6. It's the once a year part that scares them.

The other noises are commonplace enough that they get used to them.

[niyad]

9. I don't know about where you live, but every place that I have ever lived, the

idiots go on for about a week, days before and days after, for hours.

Do you think that people wih PTSD, combat vets, for example, should have to suffer attacks of anxiety, etc., because it is, according to you, "just a couple of hours? Have you ever had to deal with people suffering such attacks? It can be heartbreaking, andd exhausting, for all involved. would have asked about pets, but you had already said you never had. Talk to people whose companions DO freak out. DU has had any number of posts about that.

A bit of compassion and empathy goes a long way. Or perhaps you could watch the video clip from the L.A. station about the guy who lost his hand, and about all the fires.

[niyad]

7. Seriously?? Eveery single person I know with pets has been having problems

since this weekend, including me. And the constant barrage of noise and concussion ceertainly did not help my headache. One actually had to leash his dog to get him to go in the yard to go potty. My cat huddled on my lap under his blanket.

And, please give some caring and consideration to those experiencing PTSD. These holidays are a nightmare for them. Neighborhoods actually have to put up signs asking people for consideration.

There are also environmental factors to consider, and the fact that, in many areas, fireworks are illegal.

It is very disappointing to see such a lack of consideration and caring amoung our neighbors.

[wnylib]

8. Yes, people with PTSD are affected, too, as well as pets.

I was really surprised that my cat took it as well as she did this year, especially because she has such acute hearing, even for a cat. It might be because I had the windows closed to mute the sound and had my radio on for white noise background. She heard the fireworks and got alert initially, but calmed down more than I thought she would.

I understand people's desire to celebrate. But it really is annoying, even for humans without PTSD, to hear the loud sounds at random moments for a week before and after the holiday. I propose a compromise. Each community could have a designated day and time for a designated organization to put on an official display of fireworks. All unofficial ones could be banned. Then, at least, the people and pets who are disturbed by them have only 30 minutes at most to deal with and they have advance warning to take precautions.

[niyad]

10. Scofflaws don't give a damn. Fireworks are illegal inside the city limits

here, but that does not stop the assholes. Even when the city cancelled ecause of extremevdrought and fire danger, and then Covid, the assholes still tormented us.

[wnylib]

11. Sadly, that's true. People do what they want to do,

without consideration for others. It would only work if it was well enforced and there was a penalty with teeth in it.

[multigraincracker]

2. My dad use to raise and train bird dogs.

He would start with a cap gun and fire it every time the pups were fed. Then he moved up to several shots. Next it was a shot from a 22 and ended up with a shotgun blast. It always worked. The dogs loved big bangs.

[wnylib]

5. Good way to get them accustomed to loud noises

in a positive association.