Alert: This blog is a rant (not my usual tone.)

Maybe this wasn’t the worst holiday EVER, but it was brutal.

I’ve traditionally enjoyed July 4^th– especially a good fireworks show. Parades and parties and a little bit of patriotism.  For the most part, I’m a fun loving gal (and we did go to a block party for a bit that was fun), but having dogs has changed my outlook on the holiday- or at least the way it is celebrated. And this year sent me into a tailspin.

There are dozens of blogs and safety sheets about keeping your pets safe during the fireworks. But what about keeping them sane?

I live in Los Angeles where the fireworks begin DAYS before July 4^th. If the noise just lasted for the 20 minutes during a fireworks show, it would all be manageable. But it doesn’t end there. Individuals obtain fireworks and light them off ALL NIGHT LONG. And each time they do, my big dog, Ninja goes bananas.

This year, on July 4^th, we could hear explosions all over the city for hours and hours and hours beyond the end of the fireworks display. And I mean explosions. At 12:30 am my son came into my room and said, “I think we’re getting bombed.” In my semi-coma I replied, “It sure does sound like it, but I think it’s just fireworks. Try to go back to bed.” Ninja was barking the entire time- from 9 pm until 12:30 am.  Hence the semi-coma.

My husband gallantly hugged Ninja at the foot of the bed to act like a human Thundershirt for the remainder of the night. Well, whatever remainder there was. The explosions started up again at 4:30 am.

And now, days after July 4^th, I suppose people still had a few fireworks left, so why not set them off… Ugh.  It’s not as bad anymore, but it’s still happening.

I remember a few years ago, we walked up the street to watch our local fireworks. The dogs were safely in crates for the 30 minutes we’d be out. When the first fireworks boomed into the sky, the birds all scattered and were silent. They must have been terrified. It made me sad.

And then this year, I noticed no birds singing all night long. (Remember, I was up for most of it). There was so much tension. Everyone I spoke with this week, especially pet parents had a similar experience and felt it was way worse than years past. It was all just over the top.

So for next year, we are going to a pet-friendly resort in a town that has fireworks that end at a decent hour. I’ve already scoped it out. A pet-friendly hotel, at a dog-friendly beach, away from the fray. Sounds much better to me. My dogs love the beach and never get to go because it’s illegal in my part of Los Angeles, so it will be a win-win for everyone and maybe we’ll all get some sleep too.

Going to alert my dog sitter now that next year she will be house sitting. No doggies, just a house!