Beautifully Unique : Fireworks Season

Monday, June 30, 2014

Fireworks Season

Blogging Friends.... Is it that time again?! Already?! Fireworks season, as I am now calling it, is once again upon us!! Just last night, before bed, our neighbor shot off several illegal, heart-stopping, booming, beautiful when exploding in our skies, bottle rockets. Or bombs, as I call them!! Rose, my noise phobia suffering little girl darted from our bedroom, first cowered in the kitchen, then living room, and finally our sound barrier of a "boy's bathroom". Poor baby!! I lead Rose to our bedroom, and linked her spare red leash. There we heard a bottle rocket--bomb--explode, so I walked my reluctant, terrified little girl toward the great room. All while sarcastically whispering these words. "God bless America." And so begins yet another long {weekend} fireworks season.... Love you later.

Did I seriously write the other day that my July fictional children's story will be posted on the first? Really?! What on Earth was I thinking?! July 1st. We will be watching my two-year old niece, "Amethyst" that day!! So. Since we will also be watching my nearly eleven-year old cousin on Thursday, look for the story {Again, Lord willing!!} to be posted on July 2nd!!

This information was taken from a Summer 2011 local dog newsletter issue.

"Every year, many companion pets escape and are lost or injured because of their fear of fireworks. While many of us love the big bangs and beautiful lights, our companion pets do not share our sentiment. Many dogs and cats escape their homes, some never to be reunited with their families. We encourage each of you to please take the necessary precautions to make sure your companion pet remains safe, at home and healthy. If your pet is easily frightened by sudden noises or bright lights, talk with your veterinarian about a mild sedative to ease your pet's anxiety. Keep your pet in a safe place when the fireworks begin. Options include the pet's crate, a safe room or the basement. Turn on a radio for background noise to help muffle some of the bangs. Provide a high quality chew toy to help keep them busy and distracted. Provide their favorite stuffed toy, blanket or other item that helps them feel safe. Every year all animal shelters see many pets that have escaped over the July 4th holiday."

And.... Its veterinarian writes this.

"With the Fourth of July right around the corner, fireworks and loud noises are plentiful and for some pets, it's anything but a happy time. They can become anxious, stressed, terrified or uncomfortable and can suffer from a fear of loud noises known as noise phobia. Learn to recognize the signs of a noise phobia. Signs commonly seen are: shaking or trembling, excessive drooling, barking or howling, hiding, and trying to escape from the house, fence, or other enclosure. Some animals will lose control of their bladder or bowels and some may experience prolonged diarrhea from the stress. Keep in mind, dogs that escape can end up with wounds, lacerations or worse-hit by a car. To help you manage your dog's anxiety, try these tips: keep you dogs at home. Keep dogs inside in a safe, quiet room, turn on music and pull the window blinds. Remove any items that might be chewed. Take your dog for a walk prior to the start of the noise. Provide a safe "escape" place. For safety measures, make sure your pet's ID is current. If needed, visit your favorite vet for medical help with the noise phobia/anxiety behavior to ensure a safe holiday for you and your pet."

I acknowledge completely that some facts were repeated in this Blog post. My apologies for that!!

2 comments:

The Ladies of Beaglebratz Manor said...: Mom Kim here - I still cannot believe the number of pet owners who take their dogs out for family picnics and cook-outs on July 4th or the poor dogs who are forced to spend the nite tied to a chain in the yard or in an outdoor kennel. I once watched a video on America's Funniest Videos of a family at a cook-out - they had their little Doxie and somehow the poor thing had got a lit sparker stuck to him (the family probably did that). There was all kinds of laughter going on as that Doxie ran around and around trying to escape that lit sparkler. Needless to say I found AFV's Facebook page, and encouraged my followers to leave a "nice" little comment about the video and their airing of it on their Facebook wall - that was outright abuse and AFV was basically condoning it.

Ok - I will get down off my soapbox now - it's one thing dressing a dog up for a holiday but actually subjecting them to such abuse - my biggest "pet" peeve (excuse the pun)

I will be going to a family cook-out on the fourth - Shiloh'n Diva Shasta will be STAYING HOME, indoors with blinds and drapes shut with the TV on - Diva Shasta stays in her crate as well since she is the one most bothered by noise; even thunder turns her into a velcro dog who insists on being as close to me as possible.
Ok - bak to work now.
Mom Kim; June 30, 2014 at 10:24 AM
Mary Lou said...: Mom Kim....
Thank-you for the comment, Friend!!
"I still cannot believe the number of pet owners who take their dogs out for family picnics and cook-outs on July 4th or the poor dogs who are forced to spend the nite tied to a chain in the yard or in an outdoor kennel." I know, right?! We used to watch fireworks explode in the nighttime skies every Independence Day underneath a city bridge. They were beautiful!! But every year, I witnessed firsthand people with her terrified canines standing near that bridge!! It was wrong!! Then just yesterday, somebody at church told me that she taught her canine to "buck up" and took him outside with her while fireworks were set off!! Really?! The "America's Funniest Home Video" that you described is outrageous!! ;-/
Enjoy your July Fourth cookout!! With our neighbors shooting off bottle rockets--bombs!!--in east, west, north and south {Literally!!} there is absolutely no escape from the noise for poor Rose around here!! We usually just spend most of the night on our boy's bathroom floor together. And, aside from standing outside so that they can witness bottle rockets, my family never, ever, ever leaves the house!! ;); June 30, 2014 at 12:50 PM

"It's A... Terrible Privilege"

{Taken from "The Avengers"}
Tony Stark: You know, I've got a cluster of shrapnel, trying every second to crawl its way into my heart.
[Stark points at the mini-arc reactor in his chest]
Tony Stark: This stops it. This little circle of light. It's part of me now, not just armor. It's a... terrible privilege.
Bruce Banner: But you can control it.
Tony Stark: Because I learned how.
Bruce Banner: It's different.
[Banner tries to read the computer screen, but Stark slides the data aside with his finger so the two can see face-to-face]
Tony Stark: Hey, I've read all about your accident. That much gamma exposure should have killed you.
Bruce Banner: So you're saying that the Hulk... the other guy... saved my life? That's nice. It's a nice sentiment. Save it for... what?
Tony Stark: I guess we'll find out.
[Banner and Stark get back to work at their respective computers]
Bruce Banner: You might not enjoy that.
Tony Stark: You just might.

Raelyn:

I am a 31-year old American woman. I was born with multiple birth defects. Craniosynostosis. {I did not have any soft spots.} Congenital diaphragmatic hernia. {I had a hole in my diaphragm.} And Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. {I had an irregular, rapid heartbeat.} All three birth defects have been surgically repaired!! I live with "developmental delays". Learning disabilities, if you will. Such as--unfortunately--premature short-term memory loss. Oh, and I have attention deficit disorder, as well!! I do not like to evade such an issue as my learning disabilities. No. It hurts sometimes to be different. I was also diagnosed with a condition called folliculitis decalvans. {I am more than likely going to lose my hair, go bald, and unveil twain Frankenstein-like surgically-created craniosynostosis scars. Permanently.} But God is gradually teaching me that we are all, as my phrase goes, Beautifully Unique!!