Terror From The Sky

It’s been all over Facebook lately, and even on the news:  Advice and comments to keep your dogs safe and indoors during the holiday fireworks displays, as the poor dogs are terrified by the explosions in the air.

Sadly, no mention is ever made of the effect this has on livestock. 

Let me share last night with you.  The neighbors set off about an hour long display of Large and Loud fireworks and I spent the entirety of that time vacillating between the house and the barn / pasture trying to comfort my animals.  The poor donkeys were worked into a sweat, running trying to escape the nightmare explosions over their heads.  The goats were literally climbing the walls of the barn, when they weren’t running and trying to escape the horror around them.  The poor chickens huddled together in one of the stalls, and squawked with each display.   

The dogs were locked in the house and the two most sensitive had been given calming treats that contained valerian, ginger and chamomile.  They only last about 45 minutes though, so for that length of time they just whined and trembled a little bit.  The rest of the time they wanted to climb inside my skin for safety.  It's only a miracle that no one was injured during this night.

My pear butter burbled on the stove while I went back and forth from house to barn, projecting calm and trying to get the livestock to slurp some pear puree that was heavily laced with valerian.  Penny, Cindy and Chester all had some, but not enough to do any good.  Lulu, Gerie and Balvenie were skeptical of the world and would not eat anything.  Lulu came to me for short moments of comfort before another blast would send her running full tilt around the pasture, accompanied by Penny and Gerie, and sometimes all of the livestock, looking for safety and distance from the blasts.  Gerie and ‘Venie would cower against my legs for very brief moments then take off running again.

In the house, poor Puck trembled and whined even after calming treats.  Cami whined and couldn’t decide if she was better off in her kennel, next to my ankles, or behind the chaise.  The other three dogs barked and acted as if we were under attack.  To their minds, we were.

It was one of the most heart breaking nights to not be able to make it stop for them, and to be unable to assist them any more than offering myself as comfort. 

I beg of everyone who enjoys fireworks to enjoy them away from livestock and other animals.  Look and find someplace that is not right next to a farm.  The horror that animals are put through is not worth your enjoyment of a few sparkles in the night sky.