Greetings. Yes, it's me, Penny the Jack Russell dog wishing to discuss a very important topic with you. The next couple of weeks can be terrifying times for me and for many of us animals.
From just before Halloween, until just after Guy Fawkes Night , also called Bonfire Night, we animals can be subjected to very frightening sounds and bright lights. I have been told this is caused by fireworks.
Below is my plea for a bit of common sense that I posted up last year. I hope the following two weeks will not be as frightening as those in the past.
When Gary goes out and leaves me alone, he knows that someone has been setting off fireworks outside the house. He finds me huddled and shaking inside the closet. His socks are wet from my nervous piddle. Why are they doing this? Why do they have to explode those scary things outside our home? I'm so scared, so very scared and confused.
Gary has told me that there is no need for people to buy fireworks and cause such stress for us innocent creatures. Gary has told me that people who buy fireworks are putting themselves and others, at risk. He has told me that people can go and watch fireworks at controlled and safe public displays. So why do they take the risk? I don't understand any of this. I think that the purchase of fireworks to the public should be banned. Gary has told me that the Accident and Emergency units at the hospitals would agree.So please, spare a thought. Think about what a terrible and scary time this is for me and many other animals. Please do not go throwing fireworks down the street. Please, if nothing else, think about saving some money and going to a public display. I have been told by Gary that fireworks are expensive and you would get to see loads more at an organised and safe fireworks event.
Please have a safe and happy Halloween. If you are celebrating Bonfire Night, please take heed of my impassioned plea. I thank you.
And, if you are not aware of Guy Fawkes Night, here is link: Guy Fawkes Night in Britain.
Poor baby....those loud unexplained noises are scary aren't they? Fireworks have never been a part of our Halloween celebrations here. I believe at one time you could buy the "penny crackers" but they have been banned. Too many injuries from them. I hope things are quiet around your place during the holiday this year. Do you have a basement your human could put you in when he goes out? That might be a quieter place for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for you, Penny - what a stressful week this is going to be. Here in the states, we don't celebrate Guy Fawkes Night,so I feel very lucky right now. I would be under that bed or in the corner of the closet right along with you! Be safe, let your dad give you extra pets and cuddles. Maybe some cookies, too ;) CindyLu xx
ReplyDeleteDear Penny,
ReplyDeleteSo sorry that you have to put up with such inconsiderate human behavior.
Personally, I get quite scared by all those bangs and bright lights too. So you could always join me in my closet when it comes to that danger-filled night.
I'm sure, though, that your beloved human, Gary, will take care to look after you, and I hope that both of you remain safe and well.
With Very Best Wishes,
David.
Hello Penny:
ReplyDeleteWe totally endorse all that you write here. Everything you feel was, in the past, much the same for our two cats [who, of course, you may not as a matter of principal much care for] and we used to worry greatly at this time of year. WE trust that all will be well.
You poor girl, I so sympathise and I agree 100% that fireworks should not be sold in shops.
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn't be so bad if it was just one evening a year, but it is spread out over so many nights and people prolong the agony with birthday fireworks, wedding fireworks, Christmas, New Year... it's too much!
Sorry, didn't mean to leap on my soapbox. Hope you don't have to put up with too much noise this year.
Stay safe x
Oh poor Penny!!! Please please be safe! I think the best and truly amazing way to watch firework displays are with public displays for Guy Fawkes and New Year's Eve - they are organised and safer and truly spectacular and such fun too. I love going to these!
ReplyDeleteBut when people just set fireworks off from now until whenever in wherever they can - it becomes a nuisance to say the least. There is nothing public or community spirited about random firework setting off! Booo!
Be safe beautiful Penny - keep close to Gary!!! Take care
x
Aww, Penny! If I were there I'd save you from the boom booms! My dog, Ike, was petrified of fireworks, too. And he was a big guy-- 112 pounds! (I don't know how may stones!)
ReplyDeletePoor Penny! I used to live near a public fireworks display and every New Year's Eve the poor Lab downstairs would be scared out of her mind. Personal fireworks are illegal around home, but that doesn't stop some people, either. I've never understood the great fascination for it, myself. Perhaps we should design some doggie earplugs?
ReplyDeletewe don't have Guy Fawkes night in the states but we have "Devil's Night" which might be similar.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very important message Penny and thank you for sharing it!
Dear Penny. I vote for no fireworks too. My little puppy used to crawl under the sofa, where he just barely fit. I sympathize and so does he. I hope readers take heed and spare all creatures from this terrible noise.
ReplyDeleteDearest Penny,
ReplyDeleteThough I love the lights and beautiful patterns of fireworks I do think the noise can bee unnecessary and excessive at times.
Please to pass on my kindest regards to Gary too!
:)
You are so right to remind everyone of the effect of all those noises on animals. Penny, may you have a nice, peaceful night of it!
ReplyDeletePoor Penny! I hope this year is better for you. Humans can be such silly creatures. And inconsiderate too. I'll be thinking of you for the next few weeks!
ReplyDeleteHi everybody and hi to all my animal friends. Nothing 'pawsonal', but my poor paws would struggle responding back to each of you at this point.
ReplyDeleteI wish to thank you all for your caring and thoughtful comments. This can be a very difficult and frightening time for many of us animals when inconsiderate folks think it's okay to set of fireworks any old place.
This year, Gary and his son Tristan, if they go out, will be leaving on a bit of soothing music for me and make sure the curtains are closed. This is an alternative plan because we don't have a basement Thanks for the suggestion, anyway, Delores. So far, thank goodness, it's been fairly quiet. Hardly any noise on Halloween night.
So a loving thank you to, The Reckmonster aka Michelle, Delores, Kim and CindyLu, David, Jane and Lance, Teresa, Old Kitty, Samantha, Austan, Cat Chat With Caren And Cody, Joylene, Nas, Susan and Jemi.
You are all pawesome and please stay safe :)
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses, your way, Penny xx
No response necessary!
ReplyDeleteAs the owner of many dogs over the years I agree fireworks are a large nuisance and after awhile somewhat boring.
peace and quiet to you Penny!
Hi Ray,
ReplyDeleteFair enough, I wont respond or mention that I thank you very much for agreeing with me :)
A very quiet Arf! Arf! to you....
Hi Penny, ol' pal,
ReplyDeleteI only heard of Guy Fawkes Night several years ago after watching that movie "V For Vendetta" several years ago. Then I looked up who Fawkes was and it was pretty interesting reading. I didn't know until Gary and you had talked about it in the past and currently, in the present, that they shot off so many fireworks over there around this time of year over that big day. Damn, it sounds like how the Fourth of July is over here in the U.S. Crazy dumbasses, over here, will let off fireworks for a week or so before Independence Day even arrives. And yeah, it scares the beejeebies out of me because I, like you, freak out, suddenly, with loud and sudden pops and bangs. In other words, I empathize with you.
Take care, Penny and say howdy to Gary for me .
Sweet Penny, next year come here. All I had was little four & five year old children, show up for treats. No fireworks, no loud booms; just giggles from the cutest pirates and fairy princesses around!
ReplyDeleteOfcourse you'll have to paws out the candy as they come to the door.
I'd tell Gary to crank up the music and order a pizza for the closet!! :)
From Bazza’s cat Ginger:
ReplyDeleteDown here in the south-east (of England) there are lots of Hindus and they have just celebrated Diwali so we have had fireworks every night for the last two weeks! However, being of the feline disposition, rather than canine, we cats just chill out under the sofa. I agree that people should be more considerate of you puny dogs!
Ginger’s owner, Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
Hi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteIndeed, my kind and caring human friend, the story behind Guy Fawkes makes for a fascinating read and that's the symbolism behind the fireworks. I just wish this symbolism was celebrated at safe, public displays. Those idiots who run down the streets setting them off, are total morons.
Ah yes, I've heard about your 4th of July celebrations and how some idiots over there think it's okay to set them off a week prior. Maybe they are getting mixed up with July 1st and Canada Day.
Thanks for your empathy and I hope it was a quiet Halloween for you :)
Thanks Kelly and I shall say 'howldy' to Gary...
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses, Penny xx
Hi Dixie,
ReplyDeleteWow, that seems really neat. We had no children show up at our door. Where we live, trick or treaters are a rare sight. Luckily, it was a quiet Halloween and I only heard a couple of loud booms in the distance.
Would be fun for an English dog like me to paws out the sweets, I mean, candy, to next year's little kids who come visiting your good self :)
Gary did crank up some soothing music when he went out. However, the closet didn't want a pizza! Arf, arf! :)
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses, your way, Penny xx
Ah Bazza’s cat Ginger,
ReplyDeleteHave been waiting for you to grace us with a comment.
Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Perhaps you might have joined in. Then again, you are either too busy chillin' out under the sofa, or plotting where to hide your cat droppings....
Thank you for your understanding, Ginger. I see that you have followed in the pawsteps of your human and couldn't resist using an exclamation mark.....
"The closet didn't want a pizza."
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahaha, arf!
Hey Dixie,
ReplyDeleteArf! :)
Fireworks area really dangerous and you are right it should be banned, I love your post!
ReplyDeleteZero Dramas
Awh bless! Penny needs some soothing music like the 1812 overture to get her through the firework season. i have one cat who never bats an eyelid at such things and another who trembles in utter fear and trepidation. I have to say I find fireworks scary too.
ReplyDeleteYeah, we have the same issues here in the States during New Year's and the 4th of July. My big badassed snow dogs shiver under the beds or in closets. Poor dears.
ReplyDeleteHi Master Blogger,
ReplyDeleteIndeed, fireworks are very dangerous and that's why it makes sense to watch them at controlled public displays.
Thank you for your kind words.
Pawsitive and pawesome wishes, your way, Penny :)
Hi Madeleine,
ReplyDeleteOh my, I listened to the 1812 Overture and umm....'boom! boom!' kinda scared me :)
Strange how some of us animals are oblivious to such noise, whilst others of us, are not very impressed.
Thanks Madeleine and I hope you enjoy a bit of Tchaikovsky :)
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses, your way, Penny xx
Hi Nancy,
ReplyDeleteOh, I know how you folks get the same problems over in the States during those times. Gary was telling me about Expo 86 in Vancouver Canada and how they had fireworks displays every night for six months.
I hope your big badassed snow dogs were okay during Halloween.
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses to you and your big badassed snow dogs, Penny xx
Dear Shaking Penny,
ReplyDeleteI don't know what Guy Fawkes is because I live far away from you but it sounds like the 4th of July that has me shak'n in my Montana boots. For at least a week (and it seems like forever) I hear those loudenboomer noises all around my house and I stick so close to my human, Manzanita, that she steps on me. What a pity that humans love those loud noises.
Thinking of you and wishing you silence.
Your Montana cow-dog friend, Cody.
Manzanita@Wannabuyaduck
aw poor thing i'll send ear plugs so you won't have to listening to scary noises
ReplyDeleteDear Cody,
ReplyDeleteAh yep, Guy Fawkes is probably just as noisy as your 4th of July fireworks festivities.
I so empathise with you and your trembling. I too stay real close to my humans and me being so little, they keep tripping over me.
Wow, you wear boots? :)
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses, your way, Penny xx
Hey becca,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sending me ear plugs. It might stop me hearing scary noises from my human. A double result!
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses, Penny xx
We would like to join this plea and spread it even outside the UK so that no animals, or any other hypersensitive creatures for that matter, would have any cause for fear or concern.
ReplyDeleteScared but hopeful,
Chris' parakeets
Hi Chris' parakeets,
ReplyDeleteThank you, my flying friends. Indeed, this is a worldwide plea and those humans should think about us scared and confused creatures.
Hope you are all well.
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses, your way, Penny xx
Oh Penny, so sorry to hear how terrified you were, my heart bleeds for you little buddy. I know some youth can be so ignorantly heartless, but that is youth. No escaping it. But, I do understand your dilemma. But, I have to say I don't agree with banning fireworks. I grew up with Fireworks available, and we handled them properly, and only bought them when the day called for them...like the 4th of July and such. Accidents do happen even back in my day as a youth, but on the whole most kids came away unscathed. I strongly believe in freedom of choice. But to explode them in front of someone else's home is not acceptable. We would do them in the fields or the streets, or our own backyards, we were raised properly, otherwise we would get whipped royally! We never had them available on Halloween, no one every used them back then, no need to much fun scaring people on the streets in the middle of the night.....BOOOOOOOOO! I feel your pain, take care.....later little buddy!
ReplyDeleteHi Penny .. I can feel your pain - it's over for this year .. but I'm afraid there will be some more as Christmas and 2012 approaches .. we just don't realise the pain we inflict on innocent creatures around us ... I'm sure Gary gives you a big cuddle to make up for the anguish .. it just isn't fair though - thinking of you - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi Manic Chef,
ReplyDeleteMy dear human friend, there is too much setting off of fireworks in uncontrolled situations. And it isn't just the youth. Fireworks are dangerous and like I mentioned in my posting, hospital's accident and emergency units would concur.
Fireworks, I believe should be watched at controlled public displays. Freedom of choice is a bit of a grey area when it comes to situations that can cause mishaps, sometimes with tragic consequences.
Over here, fireworks, during Halloween and Guy Fawkes are readily available for purchase. I'm sorry, my friend, but I've got a problem with the sale of them to the public.
Thank you for understanding how frightening this time of year can be for me and many of us creatures.
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses, your way, Penny xx
Hi Hilary,
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilary and I thought it was over, yet tonight, some moron was setting them off in the street. Oh my...
Hopefully, we now have a bit of a break from those bright lights and loud booms. Gary and his son try to distract me from it all by playing games with me. That does help and I'm grateful to them :)
Cheers Hilary and take very good care.
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses, your way, Penny xx