And so.. it begins in earnest

It is almost ten thirty at night and all around me explosions are happening. Earlier it was the displays from a couple of the small towns a couple of miles away. Then it became closer, much closer. While my two dogs were inside, they both handled it well. There are no signs of any of the cats outside. My hope is that they are deep under the house, safe and not too afraid. And this, is July second. How is it going to be around here on Monday?

At the moment, the windows in this room are open. The door to outside was open earlier but is closed now. There is some documentary on television about space and the katydids are singing full throttle. This is helping to cover the percussive sounds from what neighbors are firing off into the night.

Tomorrow I will make sure the dogs are inside and I’ve given them a dose of the calming hemp before the pyrotechnics begin. If its worse than tonight, and it probably will be, I’ll close the windows and crank up the volume of the television. I think that I’ll try a trick that I saw on some training video and every time one explodes, I’ll toss a treat to each dog, letting the reaching and eating be a distraction. Letting them find a pleasure instead of fear. Praising them with every moment they are calm. I’ve used other things I’ve learned with Bella when we go hiking and it has improved her actions, even as she usually did well anyway.

Tonight my dogs did well. I hope that no one is having problems with theirs, tonight or any time from now forward when the fireworks are going off. Even as I know that right about now, either my mother or my dad is holding their dog. She’s small, she older, and fireworks frighten her badly. Someone, has to be holding her until it stops. No matter how long that takes. I will ask her tomorrow if they want to try this calming chew with their dog.

I do worry though about others. Not only the dogs, but those suffer from Post Traumatic Stress and are dealing with all the explosions going off all around. As it is tonight, this has been going on since around seven. Yes, even before dark, fireworks were going off near me.

There is much information out there about fireworks and wild life, this photo was one that has been circulating on social media.

I understand why people want to do this. I know they have purchased how ever much and feel the right to put on their own display. I won’t deny them that, even as I would prefer it not be across so many days and so many hours. As it is, I’m going to close windows, turn up the radio and turn the air conditioning back on.  Hopefully these two will continue to be okay, and that the cats outside are safe.