The Other Coast by Adrian Raeside for December 30, 2023

Poor pets and wildlife.

Where I live, the fireworks (legal and otherwise) start at dusk and continue through the night. They, mostly, save some of the big stuff for midnight. My cats will go into hiding until it’s over.

My birds do NOT appreciate the noise of fireworks. They’ve never seen them, THAT would scare their feathers off.

4 rescue dogs. 3 live in terror from fireworks. I use Benedryl for them. Works most of the time. The other dog ignores them unless really loud. Then he barks in irritation.

Aren’t all of them a day ahead of things?

Fireworks, ho-hum. Seen one, seen them all. Animals deserve better.

Fortunately, my cats trust me when I tell them that the noise will not harm them. The rainy weather here has discouraged the amateurs, for now. We generally get a burst of noise for about 10 minutes. It could be worse.

My dog growing up, was an outside dog, we lived in the country. He did even want or try to come into the house. On the 4th of July, however, he could come in the back door, like a shot, down the stairs to the basement, go under the stairs and didn’t come out until it was all over.

Eh what about thunderstorm? Me no see you hide under there when that happen?

Poor Babies…….

My poor dog would freak out completely. He hates all loud noises and even Christmas Crackers terrify him. That’s why we don’t have them.

Like nancyb above, my cat, singular, ignores it all, probably because I do, but I am guessing. I suspect, but don’t know, that it might depend on the up bringing of the animal.

The glow worms aren’t so bad.

Time to ties on a thunder shirt, which is basically a long strip of cloth, like a tensor, around the torso and shoulders of the pet in a crisscross pattern.

“Do ThunderShirts Work? The Science Behind Anxiety Wraps. The ThunderShirt is a pressure wrap for situationally anxious dogs: the lightweight fabric Velcros tightly around a dog’s chest and abdomen, offering continuous gentle pressure akin to a hug. The idea isn’t as strange as it sounds.”

Also; “Giving your dog melatonin before events of high stress like a thunderstorm, fireworks, or leaving the house can help your dog destress, relax and sleep soundly. It even helps older dogs suffering from insomnia experience a more regular sleeping cycle.”

Right there with you. Not a fan of the Blowing Up of the Neighborhood.

When did fireworks become an New Years thing anyway? :)

People just like the noise.

I’m with the doggo on this one. One year some fine, upstanding citizen (or not) busted one of our solar panels with a large gauge bullet.