Most of you probably have already thought about this: Pets do NOT like fireworks and may be endangered by them.

If you have a dog or cat especially, you've probably noted that they don't care for sudden, loud noises, nor do they especially like the nasty smell of burning gunpowder. Which is to say this: Even if you live in a community which allows you to shoot off fireworks (and more communities in the U.S., at least, are banning fireworks every year) please, please, PLEASE protect your cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, caged pets, whatever from fireworks. (There was an especially cruel comment someone overheard at a fireworks stand where I live when a young man was buying firecrackers: "Yeah, I'm going to use them to scare my dog." God help us in our town if such a person was being serious; God help us in our town if such a person thought that was even funny!)

When the afternoon starts to turn into evening, make it a point today and especially this 4th of July Weekend to keep your pets inside. They'll appreciate it and so will you.

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