Things that go BOOM

[Tom Mason]

There are three of us who have posted here before that are spending the 4th in a symphony concert and fireworks show in the backwoods of Arkansas. The city spent around $32,000 on pro fireworks.

Too bad they didn't spend that on us.

Tom Mason

[Dylan King]

My friends across the street at the "Futuro Car Wash" are up to no good again. Fireworks are illeagal in L.A. City, but that hasn't stopped them before. Right on the street and in their parking lot these fools are dancing around launching off all kinds of different fireworks. Both the "safety" kind and some old style ones, that are illeagal everywhere in California. All while playing loud Mexican banda music. I wonder if they even know what July 4th even represents. They probably think it's just a U.S. "Cinco de Mayo".

They have already had two confontations with passing cars that were hit by firework debris. Almost unbelievable.

[Leland]

My friends across the street at the "Futuro Car Wash" are up to no good again.

I can teach you the best way to throw grenades...

[Lew]

Our neighbors set off dozens of nearly professional looking fireworks at the end of our street a couple of nights ago. I haven't asked where they got them or what they were, but they looked great.

I will be playing 2 concerts today, one at a retirement home and the other at "Dogwood Dell" before the city of Richmond, Va fireworks.

[Joe Baker]

Fireworks are a sore subject with me today.

First, you have to know that Tennesseeans are GOOFY for fireworks. There are permanent stores -- large ones, I'd say 8-10,000 square feet in some cases -- devoted to nothing but fireworks, that do a brisk business year 'round. Knoxville even has, in addition to fourth of July, Christmas, New Years and a few other special events punctuated by fireworks, an enormous annual event devoted to fireworks just for the sake of fireworks, called "Boomsday".

So in this climate, it's not surprising that fireworks aren't something that people just set off on the fourth, but for several days on either side of the fourth, all day and into the night, well past midnight.

I can cope well enough with the pop-pop-pop-ratplatatat-whoooosh-ka-POW, but my dogs are going insane. They won't eat, they bark constantly, they alternately run out to try to attack the noise then hide under the bed -- they're just not dealing at all well with the fireworks, nor are they letting us get much sleep.

Bottom line: if you are using fireworks, please be considerate of their effect on your neighbors and their animals.
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Joe Baker, who isn't suggesting that fireworks are necessarily bad, but only that they should be used considerately.

[Chuck(G)]

I'll sedate the dogs (they go nuts with loud noises), cross my fingers and hope none of the neighbor's kids does anything stupid. It's wildfire season.

[Joe Baker]

Dogs? You could bring 'em in during fireworks season... ...OH YEAH! (' almost forgot!) Dogs smell bad and they're big...THAT must be why I have a clean, well-behaved, mole-and-mouse-killing cat.

You haven't seen my dogs!!

I have four CLEAN, NON-SMELLY dogs, the largest of which is about the size of a cocker spaniel, the smallest of which is most certainly SMALLER than your cat (a chihuahua standing 6 inches tall, 12 inches long including his tail, and weighing in at less than 5 pounds). The other two are a rat terrorist and a shih tzu, each about 15 lb. They are inside, mostly, although in their braver moments they run out through the doggie door to bark at their tormentors. The fireworks aren't all that LOUD, but they must have some high-frequency noise that really gets to the dogs.

Snickers, AKA "Mr. Big Stuff"


FWIW, we once had a cat that responded similarly to fireworks, but that was when we were in Texas and it only lasted one day per year.
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Joe Baker, who was a 'cat person' for 30 years... until he got his first dog!

[Chuck(G)]

I've always liked dogs (unconditional love, unyielding loyalty, etc.) but never have had any because I always felt they belonged outside - with the other outside critters. .

My cat's an outside critter--she likes it that way and seems to flourish (she's 11 and tips the scales at about 16 lbs.). Only comes inside to sleep when there's snow on the ground--and then she sleeps in a dog crate. She hates tubas and will "anoint" them given a chance.

I've never bought into the "unconditional love" thing with dogs--working with a rescure organization tells you there ain't no such thing--it's all pack instinct. If tomorrow, I dropped off the earth, the dogs would bond with the next person who'd offer them a ball and a bowl oif kibble.

[Joe Baker]

I've always liked dogs (unconditional love, unyielding loyalty, etc.) but never have had any because I always felt they belonged outside....

My dogs have asked me to explain to you that they belong inside!

I wouldn't have dogs without "enough" room to satisfy their urge to run and play, but different dogs have different requirements. Our place (app. 2/3 - 3/4 acre, I'd guess) has more yard than our little dogs ever use, so I figure it's "big enough" for them.

BTW, I'll give my personal recommendation of rat terriers as a really good breed. They're high-spirited and love to play, but also enjoy just sitting and soaking up the attention. Small enough to be easy to care for, short fur that's easy to keep clean, and few bad habits to deal with. Probably a notch "barkier" than I'd like, but not so that it's a problem -- in fact, as sentinels, they are outstanding; no one will ever come close to your house without you knowing it!

The shih tzu is similar in personality, but a lot of work to keep clean, clipped & combed. I love our shih tzu, but I'll never have another one.
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Joe Baker, who has been surprised at the degree to which he enjoys smaller breeds of dogs, but hopes to eventually have a big enough place to own a bird dog.