Fireworks | Letters | July 15

Published 3:52 pm Thursday, July 14, 2011

Fewer explosions on 4th would be best for pets

David and Ellen Sugarman’s letter concerning the dire effect of fireworks on pets, horses, cattle and wild animals is sadly true.

A neighbor told me that on the evening of July 4 she and her children watched as a massive number of ducks hovered together far from shore, too frightened to move in any direction. Her children immediately stopped lighting fireworks. Nice kids and a good lesson.

It’s been a long and happy tradition having and giving a blast along the beach where I live and I’ve been one of its biggest and happiest participants. Foremost though, it’s been a wonderful neighborhood celebration between great neighbors and friends.

But now that we are a city and our population has soared, so has the accumulative effect of fireworks. So I quit. Not one more rocket (unless I win the lottery) will be ejected from this yard.  Is there a 12-step program?

Actually, all I have to do is picture one less animal frightened out of its mind, beginning with my own dear dog and best friend Tula.

Marilyn McLauchlan

Bainbridge Island