No, Your Dog Does Not Want To Watch Fireworks And Drink Margaritas At The Beach
Consumer Reports is always ruining my fun. First, they want me to make sure that the fireworks I set off in my backyard are safety certified. Whatever. Now they're telling me that I shouldn't bring my dog to see fireworks with me. AND that I shouldn't give her any beer, or even let her help herself to the barbecue this weekend.
Here's their entire list of demands:
- Leave your dog at home when you go to see fireworks. If he's crate trained, you might put him there, where he feels the safest.
- Don't feed your dog from the picnic table or grill. Bones, potato chips and cookies could make him sick.
- No matter how fun the party gets, never give your dog alcohol.
- Remember that, while the beach seems like a treat for you, a hot day on the sand can leave your dog sunburned, dehydrated and sick from drinking salt water. Follow the AKC's guidelines to keep your pet healthy and happy throughout the summer.
Some summery traditions can be a dog's pet peeve [Consumer Reports Safety]
And the rockets red glare ... [Consumer Reports Safety]
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(Photo: Mark)
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"Remember that, while the beach seems like a treat for you..."
Also remember that you may be ruining other people's fun by bringing your pet with you. The courteous thing is to keep your pet at home. If you MUST bring it out, keep it on a leash, for goodness sake.
@Stephen Schenck: Also children.
Remember that you may be ruining other people's fun by bringing your child with you. The courteous thing is to keep your kid at home. If you MUST bring it out, keep it on a leash, for goodness sake.
That works well for pets AND kids!
To hell with that, I'm taking my dogs to the fireworks show, just like I do every year. We always get a good spot on the park lawn and make a nice evening of it. Nothing crazy, just some snacks, a blanket, a camera, a couple friends, and our two (tiny, friendly) pooches.
We keep them on leashes, have never gotten a single complaint about them, and they bring smiles to so many people.
Our house is mere blocks from where the display takes place, so if they're going to have to endure the show, I'd rather they be able to sit in our laps where they can be comforted than cooped up alone in our dark house, scared and confused.
@Rob Weddle: That's true. If the dog is just as close to the fireworks staying at home and isn't a big barker, bringing it along could be even better.
@floraposte: Wisconsin and Indiana, also.
Oh, and out here in Washington state you can buy fireworks on Indian reservations.
When I was a kid our dog would hide in the bathtub during the fireworks. He must have been scared out of his mind, but we thought it was a laugh riot. Oh, my insensitive youth.
In college we had a ferret that could drink the freshman under the table.
Slow news day...
I'd never give my dog alcohol. If that son of a bitch wants a beer, he can go get it himself.
@AngryK9: Or, if you own a dog, useful information for the upcoming holiday. But hey, why worry about other people, right?
@Stephen Schenck: Of if you are lucky enough go to the DOG BEACH!
My dog loves it and surprisingly enough despite there being loads dogs running around the beach is CLEAN.
Too bad its so very far from my house...
@JeffMc: Totally agreed on that one.
@I Love New Jersey: New Hampshire does as well, and Vermont allows some lower class fireworks.
Really though? Hick states? Nice...
My dog came with to the fireworks a number of times, he could care less.
Not all dogs are scared of them.
He enjoyed the hell out of himself simply because there were so many people around, it was like heaven for him.
I've seen loose dogs running berserk at firework displays, especially when firecrackers are also being set off randomly. Leash them or leave them home.
OK, I'm no dummy. It's a given that I shouldn't let my* dog take hits off my crackpipe.
But with a nose like that, a couple rails are OK, right?
* Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just bear with me.
@floraposte: In Los Angeles, we're so grateful people aren't firing their AK-47s in the air that fireworks get a pass.
Mine will stay at home as they always so, our little dog couldn't care less but our big dog is terrified when they get shot off even a block away.
I was trying to trim my mom's yorkie's fur once, and he was having none of it. Biting and thrashing and such. An irrigation syringe with a couple CCs of hard liquor jammed down his throat, and he calmed right down.
@Shoelace:
Sorry, Virginia does not allow fireworks. Well, at least not my part of Virginia. Your only allowed to light up sparklers and smoke bombs. Funny thing is, everyone has a friend who went to South of the Border, so the place looks like a war zone on the evening of the 4th. The cops can't even keep up with all the illegal fireworks going off.
People bringing their dogs have never bothered me. I am curious about those people who feel they must take their dog everywhere they go, though. Still, I've never had or seen trouble with the pets brought to the big firework displays.
Have fun and stay safe.
@I Love New Jersey: Here in CT you can have "sparklers" or "fountains." The array of fireworks that fits these definitions, under CT state law, is remarkably large. Some of these newfangled fountains, specifically designed to meet this definition, can be scary.
But the list of what you cannot have is very long. No firecrackers, cherry-bombs, bottle-rockets, Roman candles, smoke bombs, whistlers, or most of the wonderful stuff we used to have a blast with (pun intended!) in my youth.
@I Love New Jersey: In PA they turn a blind eye to bottle rockets and you can buy little kiddie things in-store. At least I think they're little kiddie things...
@JeffMc: Please, people. If your children are unruly, dig a hole for them and cover them securely. It's safest for all concerned.
(and then put potato chips on their nose and wait for the gulls)
@I Love New Jersey:
Here, even "punk" (which used to be sold as insect repellent in the Fifties) is banned as "fireworks". Oddly, you can still buy it legally, as long as it is sold as "incense sticks."
@I Love New Jersey: It's not usually states that allow or outlaw fireworks where I'm from, it's up to the localities.
@BytheSea: But don't forget to apply sunblock on their noses first. To forget would simply be cruel.
My dog hates fireworks. Poor baby, she'll have a long night ahead. :(
Also, dynamite and dogs trained to fetch don't mix.
@I Love New Jersey: in certain counties in TEXAS you can have fireworks, my brother and i bought 1100 dollars worth of fireworks and will be enjoying it in all its glory saturday night at the farm...you can have a concealed in any county with a permit but yet fireworks is only allowed in certain counties...gotta love the laws
@floraposte: Actually, they ban everything. Around this time of year you see on the news the New Jersey State police blowing up mannequins with fireworks to show how bloody dangerous they are.
@I Love New Jersey: No, as long as you get a permit, you can set off quite a few fireworks in New Jersey. You may have been thinking "without a permit," but that's still a far cry from banning everything.
@teqjack: Holy crap, they still sell punks? I haven't seen them in over a decade! I remember climbing into the tree house with a few of those lit. Never got bitten up. Ah, memories.
I can see the fireworks , dogs having way better hearing than you and I hear those booms and bangs in different manner . It probably sounds like a lion or something coming after them .
Thunder bothers most dogs as well . I had a dog who scooch up,under or near a person during a thunder storm as in protect me please .
One of the things Consumer Reports missed was the butt wads than run with their dogs on concrete and black top without the running shoes/protection the runner has . Running with their dog is nothing more than to draw attention to themselves -"oh look at me I have a dog".
Another thing these butt plugs have to realize most dogs and many other 4 legged animals are designed to run in bursts to catch their prey and that's it . They are not marathoners nor do they necessarily have the same aerobic capacitiy as humans . If the dogs tung is hanging he's over heating . I also can't stand butt holes that ride a bike dragging their dog in tow like a slave for sale .
Again one of the big things is lack of protection for the dogs paws . These butt plugs that run on concrete and black top FAIL to realize or recognize that the dogs paws are not protected . If their running shoes wear out they buy a new pair if the dogs paws wear out... How would you like it if someone made you run in barefeet on concrete and blacktop ?
@I Love New Jersey: Nebraska. Most of the state can have them for a week. I believe Omaha has severe limits. Lincoln permits purchase on the 3rd and the 4th. However, as the state is awfully close to Missouri, a lot of fireworks come from over the border. Missouri sells them all year.
@JeffMc: Don't be silly. My kids are under 'voice control'. This means that after they jump on you and get dirt all over your pants, or stick their noses in your food, I will call them off.
@I Love New Jersey: as has already been (indirectly) mentioned, South Carolina has kick-ass fireworks.
i live 15 minutes north of the SC border.
Dogs tend not to like loud music.
And what sort of backwards hick states would have legal fireworks?