We humans love fireworks. They are a part of many culture's celebrations across the globe. In the United States, most towns and cities put on an incredible fireworks display on Independence Day. In Europe, fireworks are used to celebrate holidays the year round. As an American living in Sweden, I was not aware that Swedes shoot off fireworks on New Year's Eve with total abandon gusto! There are no restrictions regarding the sales of these air-born rockets to the average citizen, believe it or not.
I am the owner of a dog. She is now three years old. She is a wonderful, small female mixed breed between a Papillion (her mother) and an Yorkshire Terrier (her father). She is a very well-balanced dog. She loves and trusts everyone and loves to go along with me whenever she can.
The sale of fireworks begins here in earnest in early December. You can hear the occasional one here or there being fired at any time in December, as it seems some people are too anxious to save them until New Year's Eve. My dog hates fireworks. If we are out for a walk and one goes off, she will immediately turn toward home and pull on the leash in that direction and nothing I say or do will convince her that 'it's ok'. As you can imagine, the closer to the big holiday, the more often we encounter this when going out for a walk.
This past New Year's Eve I was home alone with the dog. I took her out at around 8 pm because I knew it would be pointless to try and take her out much after that time. She was hesitant to leave the front step, but I convinced her to at least take a few steps away from the building so she could relieve herself.
When midnight came, our neighbors from downstairs came out the door with their party guests and were carrying four full cases of fireworks! They did not even have the consideration to go several dozen feet or yards away from the apartment building; rather they set up their makeshift 'launching pad' only fifteen feet from the building!
They proceeded to fire off some pretty impressive rockets, complete with the 'whooshing' noise and the smoke. My poor dog was frantic! She saw the bright flashes in the front windows and tried to leave the apartment. I closed the blinds, turned up my music a bit, but nothing could damper the incredible noise coming from just outside the windows. I talked calmly to her, held and reassured her, but to no avail. She was shaking with fear! She finally took refuge in the shoe rack at the front door. She literally crawled onto the shoe rack and cowered there in the corner until the celebrating was over an hour later.
Next year, sadly, I will have to make a visit to my vet to get her a tranquilizer so she can endure the long night. I know that there are countless pet owners out there that feel, as I do, that there should be restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks.
Written by Cin Rupp. Come and visit my blog and see some really cute photos of Maggie! http://mycutemutt.blogspot.com/ Best Top-Quality Pet Supplies!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cindy_Rupp
Posts
Poor Maggie! I know she must have been so scared. She is such a cutie!
ReplyDeleteFortunately my dogs don't be afraid of the fireworks. One tends to stay alittle closer to me during them. Another one likes to bark at them.
Hey there (or should I say "hej?"),
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog! Funny enough, I lived in SE for a while, too! That was pre-dog days, though, but I do sympathize with you about the fireworks. :( That stinks. Your little Maggie is so cute!
I know, my dogs get so scared of fireworks.
ReplyDeleteThey hide under the sofa and refuse to come out even to eat.