Fourth of July means fireworks and that means frightened pets
Independence Day is unquestionably the best annual excuse for the whole country to unite and celebrate together. It marks the day that the USA was officially recognized, seceding from the British Empire and 220 years later of course, the day when all the people of Earth united under Bill Pullman to thwart an alien invasion.
It goes without saying that pyrotechnics are invariably a part of these traditional celebrations, but to every pet and wild animal in the City of Santa Monica and beyond, the philosophy behind these festivities really doesn’t matter and all fireworks actually do is cause unnecessary anxiety, panic and fear.
All fireworks are illegal in Santa Monica and officials are yet again warning potential July 4th partygoers to keep the illegal activity out of the city. According to the Santa Monica fire code, “All fireworks shall be illegal in the City of Santa Monica including California State Fire Marshal ‘Safe and Sane’ fireworks. No person shall possess, transport, sell or offer for sale, any such fireworks.”
In a statement to the Daily Press, the Santa Monica Fire Department reiterated that possession of fireworks is considered a misdemeanor and may be punishable up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail. The Department also asked residents to remember that discharging firearms into the air is also a felony and is punishable by a year in state prison.
Santa Monica’s only legal fireworks show will be at Santa Monica College on Saturday, June 29 on Corsair Field, with a pyrotechnic display beginning at 9pm.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, every year the department responds to dozens of complaints of fireworks around this time of year and while many of those complaints are reported as other kinds of calls, such as “shots fired,” they turn out to be fireworks. Local officials say the problem is national in scope with more than 19,500 reported fires started by fireworks annually.
Now add to that the fact that cats and dogs especially, but just about every other animal as well, has a significantly more evolved sense of hearing than human beings. You probably wouldn’t like it either if every summer you were suddenly subjected to something that sounded more like a sustained artillery bombardment in the Ardennes rather than the occasional pop, whiz or bang. To them, it’s deafening.
According to a US Consumer Product Safety Commission 2023 report, it received reports of eight deaths and an estimated 9,700 injuries involving fireworks last year. There were an estimated 800 emergency department-treated injuries associated with firecrackers and 700 with sparklers. Teenagers between the ages of 15 to 19 had the highest rate of fireworks-related injuries, with children ages 5-9 years old having the second highest rate. Moreover, burns accounted for 42% of the 9,000+ injuries treated in emergency rooms seen in July and lest we forget, fireworks are frequently the cause of bushfires.
To prepare your pets as best you can, please follow these recommendations from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles.
• Educate children: Teach them to not scare or tease pets with firecrackers or sparklers.
• Keep pets indoors: Leave the family pet at home where they will be safe, secure, and less stressed. Loud noises from fireworks can cause a dog to jump a fence and run away from home or a cat to hide for days. Keeping your pets indoors will keep them out of danger.
• Keep pets comfortable: Create a safe space for your pet, in their bed or in a cool, well-ventilated room with soothing music playing softly in the background. Include your pet’s favorite toys, a tasty chew and a pet bed or blanket for comfort.
• Refrain from restraint: Never tie-up your dog to keep them from escaping. The loud noises from the fireworks can frighten your pet making them more likely to attempt to flee. Dogs can seriously injure themselves, or even die, trying to escape.
• Microchip & ID tags: Cats and Dogs should be microchipped and wear current ID tags at all times. This is the best way towards a happy reunion if your pet goes missing.
• Report lost pets: Report a lost pet to your local animal care services department. Anyone looking for a lost pet will certainly look there first. You can also post lost pets on social media and neighborhood apps.
“It’s time to celebrate the 4th of July and although this is a fun holiday it can also be a very stressful time for our furry friends,” said Elizabeth Noble, Chair, Santa Monica Animal Shelter Foundation.
“There are lots of loud noises, bright lights and startling sounds that can easily scare your pet and you don’t want your pet to get scared and to run away. This is very common around the 4th of July, so we encourage you to keep your pet safe inside your home and be sure your windows and doors are closed,” Noble said.
The Santa Monica Animal Shelter still has so many wonderful animals looking for their forever homes and some have been there for far longer than they should have to be. But, even if you can’t adopt any more, or just don’t have room in your apartment that’s already filled with countless cute cats and kittens, you can still help the animals by making a donation or shopping on the Chewy wishlist. Some of the rescued animals at the Shelter need costly veterinary care, so until some super-wealthy philanthropist donates a million or two, they still need our help.
To adopt a cat, kitten or any of the adorable available animals, you can call the Santa Monica Animal Shelter at: (310) 458-8595 to schedule an appointment.
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