General Discussion

MineralMan

(146,346 posts) Sat Jul 4, 2015, 12:28 PM Jul 2015

Damned DIY Fireworks! [View all]

In St. Paul, MN, where I live, fireworks that explode or fly are forbidden. 20 miles away, across the border in Wisconsin, are dozens of fireworks dealers selling them, including near-professional grade mortar shells, etc. So, some of my neighbors disregard the prohibition and shoot them off for a week around July 4.

Not only are they a fire risk and a safety hazard, they absolutely freak out dogs. Last night, my wife and I had to stay up and try to comfort our lab rescue beagle, Sam, for three hours while the booming went on. Sucks!

The local authorities do not respond to calls about illegal fireworks. They have too many other serious calls to go on. So, the front yard fireworks show just goes on, year after year.

We have to leave the 4th of July party we're going to this afternoon to get home in time to try to keep the poor dog from going nuts. He'll get a dose of xanax, as recommended by our vet. But it will still freak him out.

Boo!

92 replies

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Damned DIY Fireworks! [View all] MineralMan Jul 2015 OP

When I was young, growing up in SE Wisconsin, xmas74 Jul 2015 #1

You can buy any fireworks in WI, but it's illegal MineralMan Jul 2015 #2

I remember going to stands with nothing but sparklers, snakes and poppers. xmas74 Jul 2015 #5

Pennsylvania has the sme goofy law HassleCat Jul 2015 #10

They are so afraid of offending any businesses in PA Curmudgeoness Jul 2015 #18

I'm with you, Curmudgeoness. femmocrat Jul 2015 #27

Ha, I hope for rain every 4th of July! Curmudgeoness Jul 2015 #84

The same situation applies in Illinois. guillaumeb Jul 2015 #11

I really doubt it is just conservatives former9thward Jul 2015 #69

Agreed. guillaumeb Jul 2015 #71

You are right but ... former9thward Jul 2015 #72

Do liberals tend to reflexively oppose all military spending, guillaumeb Jul 2015 #73

I imagine it is all over the map. former9thward Jul 2015 #77

I'm with you on this. enlightenment Jul 2015 #3

It's pretty amazing around my neighborhood. MineralMan Jul 2015 #6

I work from home now xmas74 Jul 2015 #12

yes, yes and yes. KarenS Jul 2015 #4

Hmph! We have a thunder shirt for our sensitive dog, MineralMan Jul 2015 #8

oh dang,,,, KarenS Jul 2015 #21

He'll survive. It's just hard to watch. MineralMan Jul 2015 #23

Do you feel that the Xanax helped at all? catchnrelease Jul 2015 #56

Yes. LWolf Jul 2015 #7

:( demmiblue Jul 2015 #17

I do, too. LWolf Jul 2015 #32

That goes for all animals. Our farm animals go crazy on the fouth. jwirr Jul 2015 #9

Our local cops call this "Night in Baghdad". Curmudgeoness Jul 2015 #13

In my experience, most of those setting off those MineralMan Jul 2015 #14

New Year secondvariety Jul 2015 #53

Lucky for us, it is too cold then to have many people out Curmudgeoness Jul 2015 #85

Mutt muffs might help if he doesn't try to get them off. Vattel Jul 2015 #15

Also don't over-comfort him. That can make it worse. Vattel Jul 2015 #16

Funny how people that hate fireworks tend to have animals that over stress about them. nt alphafemale Jul 2015 #31

I never hated fireworks catchnrelease Jul 2015 #57

same with kids and bugs/snakes Kali Jul 2015 #58

my cats were showing anxiety about the fireworks but they will live Liberal_in_LA Jul 2015 #19

Yes, of course they'll live. MineralMan Jul 2015 #20

Six months a year we get near daily thunderstorms that are far louder than any fireworks Fumesucker Jul 2015 #22

We get lots of thunderstorms here, too. MineralMan Jul 2015 #24

Consider purchasing a box fan. demmiblue Jul 2015 #25

We have several, along with a noisy window AC MineralMan Jul 2015 #26

We have the same problem with our dog. mmonk Jul 2015 #28

Kindred spirits. old guy Jul 2015 #29

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr Novara Jul 2015 #30

So's mine. AngryOldDem Jul 2015 #38

Today is my birthday CountAllVotes Jul 2015 #33

Happy Birthday, our sparkling friend! No Vested Interest Jul 2015 #52

Thanks CountAllVotes Jul 2015 #54

They're terrible for the environment, too. MH1 Jul 2015 #34

huh? Kali Jul 2015 #59

Perchlorate and other poisons. They don't just vanish into the air (and if they did, MH1 Jul 2015 #68

thank you nt KT2000 Jul 2015 #87

Forgot your sarcasm tag yeoman6987 Jul 2015 #63

Nope. MH1 Jul 2015 #67

This is absolutely the worst time of year for dogs. AngryOldDem Jul 2015 #35

I really hate the noise BainsBane Jul 2015 #36

We got two ThunderShirts greytdemocrat Jul 2015 #37

You might try Rescue Remedy for pets CountAllVotes Jul 2015 #39

Another recommendation: Stuff a Kong with wet dog food and freeze it. demmiblue Jul 2015 #40

You have my sympathies. Our cat seems to be handling the noise OK, but we do KingCharlemagne Jul 2015 #41

Our vet prescribed valium. Seems to work very well. rwsanders Jul 2015 #42

I was in La Habra for the 4th one year.... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2015 #43

I wonder what the statistics are for fires set by these fireworks, SheilaT Jul 2015 #44

Hate them too. kiva Jul 2015 #45

Bold prediction! More people will be killed, maimed and injured by domestic fireworks terrorists today than ISIS and Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #46

I've already had it with fireworks this year. NuclearDem Jul 2015 #47

They're really hard on Middle East war vets, too Warpy Jul 2015 #48

I have seen way "better" bigger fireworks in New Mexico than old Mexico. Kali Jul 2015 #62

Yes, the cities down south have less restrictive laws Warpy Jul 2015 #64

I hate fireworks and my dog trembles from the fear. DawgHouse Jul 2015 #49

I can buy fireworks, but I have to sign a form promising to take them out of state in 48 hours Travis_0004 Jul 2015 #50

Most fireworks are illegal in Florida but there is a loophole DawgHouse Jul 2015 #51

If I buy one ear or corn and throw it in my yard is it a corn fiield? Travis_0004 Jul 2015 #55

Maine had a similar law for as long as I can remember. Until idiot Paul LePage changed it. PotatoChip Jul 2015 #60

oh, you meant retail product Kali Jul 2015 #61

Oh, MM, I hate them with a purple passion! sadoldgirl Jul 2015 #65

"same noise level a Wagner opera" awoke_in_2003 Jul 2015 #66

I have hunting dogs. former9thward Jul 2015 #70

Fact is that any time a law is made, there will always be someone yuiyoshida Jul 2015 #74

Lighting fireworks aren't the problem Aerows Jul 2015 #76

Around my house I always hear some loud booms yuiyoshida Jul 2015 #78

I grill, too Aerows Jul 2015 #79

well grab a brandy and kick back and listen to some great yuiyoshida Jul 2015 #80

Damn, I'm not that old Aerows Jul 2015 #81

I was not born in the 70s... yuiyoshida Jul 2015 #82

My county allows them, but the incorporated city I live in does not. Aerows Jul 2015 #75

THey also affect military personnel suffering from PTSD malaise Jul 2015 #83

We're in the same boat, although it hasn't been quite as bad this year. Vinca Jul 2015 #86

living in a tinderbox this year KT2000 Jul 2015 #88

Well, Sam, our lab rescue beagle, survived the MineralMan Jul 2015 #89

My beagles were very unhappy last night but thankfully beaglelover Jul 2015 #90

Good luck with that. pintobean Jul 2015 #91

Yes, well... MineralMan Jul 2015 #92