Opinion: Switch to silent fireworks
By Lindsay Pollard-Post
There will be plenty of “oohs” and “aahs” during the July Fourth fireworks celebration in Costa Mesa this year. But there won’t be any bone-rattling booms and bangs. That’s because the city is putting on a silent fireworks display – and other cities should, too.
Noisy fireworks aren’t fun for everyone. For many dogs, cats, wildlife and veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, they are terrifying and can even be deadly.
Countless dogs and cats panic at the sound of explosions – their hearing is much more acute than that of humans, after all – and bolt from their homes, sometimes tearing through screens, digging under fences or even crashing through windows. Animal shelters across the country brace for an influx of lost and injured animals following every July Fourth.
All of us should work at asking our environment quieter and being more thoughtful about folks around us. We get tired or listening to your dog(s) bark incessantly all day while you leave them in the back yard while you go somewhere to have fun! Put your dog inside or take them with you! Neighbor’s are also not interested in listening to YOUR music, which is so loud it wafts through our neighborhood. No one is interested in your “concert” — if you have a hearing problem – get a headset! Seriously, I don’t like to gripe – but it would be nice if folks were more considerate about the annoying noises they generate around others. Quiet is calming!
This is as important as cleaning up the lake and beaches after the fireworks show. Silent fireworks, about time.