A home fireworks show seems to be what everyone wants to do these days for the 4th of July. Sadly, it is not just the 4th of July, but weeks leading up to the holiday, and weeks after. Before you start setting off the boomers in your yard, consider what we have to say about it.
1. Fireworks Are A Huge Business
Did you know Americans light off 268 million pounds of fireworks each year? That is a lot of fireworks creating a lot of smoke, and trash, not to mention how much money is “blown up,” roughly one billion dollars for the 4th of July! Most of the fireworks come from China. These days with laws changing, only about ten percent of fireworks are done professionally, the rest are done at home.
2. A Home Fireworks Show Can Be Dangerous
Last year about 13,000 people ended up in the ER with fireworks related injuries, and about seven people die from their injuries each year. What about the pets? Walking on the 5th of July is never much fun because most people have left all the fireworks debris right on the street where they set it off. We don’t know what this trash is, and curious dogs might ingest some debris, or step on something that hadn’t properly exploded the night before. If you must set off fireworks, please clean up afterwards.
3. A Home Fireworks Show Is A Nightmare For Many Pets
Dogs and cats are often terrified by all the fireworks going off. It isn’t just a few minutes, it typically goes on for hours. Bailie suddenly developed a fear of all the booming. She drools, and quivers like crazy for hours. Aside from being knocked out cold, she is not able to really relax. Bailie does always cuddle up to Mom during her scared time, but she still shakes like crazy.
Many pets will run away from home because they are so scared, so make sure your pet has proper ID, keep her leashed if you must go out, but try to stay indoors. The 5th of July is the biggest day of the year for lost pets. Very sad.
4. Fireworks Are Scary For A Lot Of People
Many people these days suffer from PTSD, and fireworks are a nightmare for them. Before setting off your home fireworks show, make sure no one in your area has issues with the sound of things exploding. Even my Mom is almost scared as some fireworks these days are so loud, they shake the entire house!
5. Not Everyone Has Time Off For The 4th Of July
Not everyone has the 4th or 5th of July off, or the weekends before and after the holiday. For those that have to get up early in the morning to work, they can’t sleep if you are having your home fireworks show all night long, and then all weekend too.
The 4th of July should be a fun holiday, and you can help it be more fun by respecting others and using common sense if you must shoot off fireworks from home. We always hoped for a driving rain storm on the 4th, but no more as we realized it only means the fireworks will be used at a later date. The long weekend is wonderful, but we, human included, really dread all the fireworks.
Those are very good points. My dogs so far don’t have issues with fireworks but it is something can that be acquired in time which I hope doesn’t. Have a safe fourth.
With Bailie it just happened from one day to the next, but Mom hates them too because she has to get up early and the people set them off until all hours of the night for weeks.
Yes!!! You are right on all counts.
Thank you.
Fireworks are evil and we’re sure not fans of those who set them off all hours of the night here.
It is very rude and inconsiderate the way people feel they should set them off all night long and for weeks.
I don’t think home fireworks should Beal,owed. You never know when something is going off. They really scare everyone
Some are so loud, Mom flies out of bed herself. Not necessary.
Poor Callie was terrified of loud noises – thunder, fireworks, gunshots whatever – she used to crawl into my lap or try to hide between my legs. Surprisingly, they never really bothered Shadow. But I hate them because my ears are sensitive, plus because of how they affect other people and pets. I mostly dislike the folks who set off fireworks with absolutely no regard for anyone but themselves.
Most who do set them off don’t have any respect for the feelings or lives of others. It is very rude.
When we had our Little Bit we did all we could to get her through the 4th and all the fireworks. She hated every minute. We don’t do them and we don’t participate in them either. I wish they didn’t have any fireworks at all. Scares us too and keeps us up way later than we like.
Have a woof woof day. My best to your smart peeps. ♥
We are fine with the city ones on the actual holiday, but the private ones are so very out of hand these days.
Very well said. I am not so terrified, but baby Puffin is not thrilled with loud sounds. Here in Florida one has to sign a paper saying home fireworks are for agricultural purposes – HA! My mom gets upset that they even sell things that go BOOM! Thundershirts helped Maggie who was absolutely terrified like Bailie of storms and fireworks. XOXO, Sparkle
Fireworks are not a good thing. My mom hates them too. The big shows in the city are fine, but all the stuff in the neighborhoods is not nice.
We TOTALLY agree! GRRRRRRRRRRR ! XOXO, Sparkle, Mom, and little Puffin
I wish all people could read your posr and they will understand …..we fear the bastilleday in advance, we are not scared but we think about all the pets and people who have a scary night
Mom was in Paris one year for Basitlle day. For some reason she doesn’t remember much about what happened.
Those nasty things should not even be made. Terrible frightening noise for companion animals, livestock, and wild animals. Plus here in the West sane people worry about fire!
It is such a waste and really nothing good comes of fireworks. Who needs all that noise?
We wish that fireworks had never been invented!
We are on board with you there!
Excellent post. To be honest, I don’t mind fireworks at all but Gail, my human, finds the loud noises scary.
Toodle pip!
Bertie.
My mom gets mad because they keep her from sleeping and she gets up so early every day, and some of them are so loud, the house shakes. Ridiculous.
you are 100% correct on al accounts!
Good points! Fireworks can be very dangerous if a dog swallows them. I used to have to check our backyard for bottle rockets before the boys could go out in the morning on the 5th! Thankfully, it is not allowed in our new area and MOST people obey the rules.
We love that your neighborhood doesn’t allow them. It is just a rotten time around here.
Great post! My dogs are not fans of the bangs. 🙁 It’s our least favorite time of the year.
Olivia and I don’t care, but Bailie is scared and Mom can’t sleep. It really stinks.
What a great post! So far we have been lucky at our new home to not have any close fireworks. Our beagle Cricket used to be the most terrified of them, but Luke is no fan either.
I feel bad for my sister, who’s neighbors set them off….one of her beagles is terrified too.
My former brother-in-law used to love to do these at 4th parties. I’m actually amazed -and grateful- that no one was ever hurt.
It is just ridiculous. If it was one night we would not mind so much, but it goes on for weeks and has been every night now for days.
What a great article! We shared in on FB, Mama can’t even step on this soapbox…she’s afraid she’d never get down. Jakey used to have major panic attacks from fireworks. Luckily his hearing has diminished with age, and if we keep background noise on(music or TV), we can get through a night without too much upheaval.
Luckily, Bailie has learned to cuddle up with Mom to get through it all, but she shakes a lot and some of the people have such loud ones even Mom jumps. It is a soapbox for mom too, and since it has been going on nightly for days already, we all had to say something. Hope you all stay safe and not too scared.
Our least favorite ‘howliday’ of the year. Far too many people shoot off fireworks well before and after the actual fourth despite many municipalities banning them. The TV will be loud for the next several days. 😬
It is our least favorite one.