Sound Advice

/ Ann Coleman

IMG_7716If there’s one thing we dogs know, it’s that loud noises ALWAYS mean danger.  And even though my parents adopted me from an animal shelter in Missouri, I’m originally from Louisiana, where flooding is common.  That means I know rain can also spell big trouble, and the only sensible thing to do when the rains come is to move to higher ground.  (It’s not my fault that the best “higher ground” in my house is the dining room table, but try telling Mom that.  She has a hissy fit every time I try to climb up there.  Luckily, she’s not always home when I feel the need to heighten.)

Anyway, it goes without saying that when you combine rain with thunder and lightening from a storm, what you get is a situation that strikes pure terror in the heart of your average dog.  Yes, I know that some dogs aren’t fazed by nasty weather, but all I can say to that is obviously, some dogs aren’t all that smart.  I don’t mean to speak ill of my own, but I think we all know that every species has a few members who were obviously not present when brains were being handed out, and why should dogs be any different?  Those of us who know better have a very healthy respect for the horrors that bad weather can bring.  And if you don’t believe me, just listen to the weather forecasters when they think a hurricane, tornado, or some other weather disaster is approaching.  They may not pant and try to hide, but they sure do panic and urge everyone else to do the same.

Which is why I, and every other sensible creature on this planet, hate rain and storms.  Unfortunately, here in the Midwest, they are very common in late Spring and early Summer and basically impossible to avoid.  In other words, this time of year is bad enough all by itself without adding anything else to the mix.  So what do humans do?  They have a little celebration called “The Fourth of July” every year on, you guessed it, July 4th.  And do you know how they celebrate it?  With fireworks, that’s how.  Loud, terrifying, relentless fireworks that begin sometime around July 1st and keep going until the people setting them off run out.

First of all, the only appropriate way to celebrate any holiday is with food.  And I mean lots of food, generously shared with the four-footed, furry members of the family.  There is no need for anything else, much less something as terrifying as fireworks.  I mean seriously, why would anyone deliberately try to make a noise that sounds like the loudest thunderbolt ever, and looks like the whole sky is lit up by deadly lightening?  And see what I mean about every species having a few members who come up a bit short in the brain department?  Fireworks are proof positive of that.

Thankfully, the fireworks are over for another year and the storm season should be winding down shortly.  That means I can get back to enjoying my life with my family and stop being so scared.  And who knows?  Maybe sometime in the coming months people will wise up and ban not only all fireworks, but rain and thunderstorms too.  A dog can hope…..

Love, Finn   

 

67 thoughts on “Sound Advice”

  1. Oh, Finn, is quite a writer. I am sorry for what you’ve gone through.
    I live in LA and I like to record in my place. I try to do that in the early morning, late evening – weekends are usually a little quieter. But I wasn’t able to do much recording because of all the animals barking. They were very upset from all the random firecrackers going off all week long. I couldn’t always hear the fireworks, but the dogs did and they were pretty upset!
    I’m just glad it has passed and I hope things get quieter where you are soon! I’m glad you were able to express your feelings, Finn!

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    • Thank you, Miss Judy! I feel sorry for those poor dogs in your neighborhood, as it is very scary when fireworks are going off and they were letting people know they wanted them to stop! It’s quieter here now too, in terms of fireworks, but we’ve had bad storms two nights in a row. I can’t wait for good weather again! Love, Finn

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  2. Dear Finn. Fireworks aren’t my favorite thing either. I have cousins who are dragged to the family fireworks out in the country, but my dad makes sure I stay home. I’m grateful. However, the 4th always means I get a few nibbles of beef franks off the grill. Yahoooo!
    Love & sniffs,
    Shorty

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    • Thanks, Shorty! It sounds as if your dad is a smart man, because I’m sure you don’t want to go to the fireworks display. And lucky you getting some beef franks! That’s exactly how I think the fourth of July should be celebrated: eating!! Love, Finn

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    • That’s what Mom keeps telling me too! But the thing is, if the flood waters rise, then you need to be up high. So I’m afraid to be under the table because I know the waters could reach me there. But they can’t get me if I’m up high, like on top of the table. I’ve never actually seen any flood water in our house, but there’s first time for everything and a dog can’t be too careful! Love, Finn

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  5. Dear

    Oh Finn, I’m with you! I know the fireworks are part of celebrating our country but when it started going rogue in neighborhoods, I started getting scared too. Hang in there and stay close to Mom, she totally get’s how you feel! I’m glad you landed with such an amazing family and they love you all the time, even through the scary stuff. Keep sharing your feelings too, because we love hearing from you. Good boy!

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    • Thank you! I’m glad to know you understand how scary fireworks can be too. They are SO loud and bright that it just seems as if everything is going to explode, and that’s terrifying. You’re right about staying closer to Mom, that does help. And thanks for complimenting my writing skills…I do try my best! Love, Finn

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  7. My, my Finn! I guess you are a very proactive fellow. From experience the flood waters rise by increments and should the carpet or floors start to have a sheen of water there will be plenty of time to get to high ground… But you do you. I believe that food should also be the main component of holiday celebrations. To that end we had a regular feast on the 4th – you might not have enjoyed it all but the chili was excellent, the berry trifle was delicious and the side dishes outstanding (especially all the fresh fruits and cookies)… We have a noise ordinance that requires the fireworks to be confined to 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM and only 5 days prior and 5 days after 7-4. It has made life a lot less noisy.

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    • I do like to plan ahead….I’ve often thought I would have made an excellent Boy Scout, if only they allowed dogs. So I get on the table just in case those flood waters rise, rather than wait until there actually is any water in the house. And your celebration sounds fabulous!! I’d love all of the food, except maybe for the fresh fruit. Of course I may have a little bit of an upset stomach the next day, but that’s not a problem: I have a yard full of grass I can eat that will take care of it. Thanks for your comment! Love, Finn

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  9. Finn, Amen to all you wrote. I would advise not coming to the Netherlands on the New Year as it extremely bad time for 4 footed and humans that don’t like fireworks!

    Maybe a small table just for you is needed? Ask your Mom.😊
    Hugs,
    CJ

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    • Wow that is even longer than we have to hear them! Some idiots…pardon me, “brain-challenged people,” set them off on New Year’s Eve here too, but otherwise it’s mainly just around the fourth of July. Food is a much better way to celebrate!

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  11. Your New York friend Betty was not overly impressed with the sound of fireworks either. Mom stayed with her because Betty kept running to the window in hopes of catching the noise…

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    • They are so scary. And lots of dogs run away when they hear them, in a sheer panic, and then can’t always find their way home. I wish people would be more considerate! Thanks for your comment, Ally. Love, Finn

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  17. Since Lyla can’t type, I will enter her reply here. She says that in previous years she was also terrified of the fireworks, and would hide under the bed when they started. But now that she is 13.5 years old, she cannot hear them very well, so that is one benefit of being old.

    On other hand, I was more scared than I used to be with the normal thunderstorms this year, coming from the west across the lake and pounding against the big bedroom windows, after the multiple severe storms and tornado and heavy rain we got last summer.

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  19. Finn is a wise creature! Our dog, Bella, hides under the table at the first sound of thunder. She seems to know a storm is coming hours before the first drop of rain. Animals do understand danger and often sense it before people do…whether it is the smell of smoke from a fire, or an explosion far away. When a dog seems agitated by something, I always check to see what is going on. Our furry friends have much to teach us!

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    • I agree, Linda! Sometimes I get annoyed with Finn for getting so panicked during storms, but then I remember that he knows some things I don’t know, like maybe there is a danger in the storm that’s scaring him so much. As for being afraid of rain, I honestly think he must have been caught in a flood at some time. He was about one when we got him, so we don’t know his past. Which means that maybe Finn and Bella aren’t so off the mark after all!

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  20. We are still getting a lot of fireworks in our neighborhood – I mean, come on, it’s already July 12! I’m glad you have the kitchen table to climb on when you are looking for higher ground, false alarm or not!

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  22. Hey, buddy! It’s the Nature’s fireworks that makes the planet interesting, although the same cannot be said about what we humans indulge in at times. Sometimes, those fireworks are of much more perilous kind when countries go to war, which is immeasurably hurtful to all living beings. We too keep hoping that humans will relent one day and stop manufacturing nuclear and biological elements of war. For the moment, you should consider yourself one lucky canine who gets to mount forbidden heights when your parents are out.

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    • I have heard about those fireworks that really do damage, and I can’t imagine how awful that must be. (Even though I admit I’m still not a fan of the natural fireworks, either.) When will humans learn that peace is always the way to go? And I’m not just talking about noise, either. Love, Finn

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  23. Dear Finn,
    I feel for you. Loud noise is scary and I usually go up to my brothers room and hide underneath his bed until everything is quiet again. I also agree that the proper way to celebrate a holiday is with lots of food. Hopefully you will have a sunny and relaxing summer.
    Meow, Fiber

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  24. My Buddy is the same way. The worst is when he wakes me up at night to tell me there is a thunderstorm and refuses to be comforted. So I go back to sleep with him panting in my face and scratching my arm to wake up.

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    • Ha! Finn does the same thing when he’s not in his crate. He makes sure we know how upset he is, but won’t let us calm him down. We use a thunder shirt which helps a little, but not nearly enough. So sorry to hear you have to deal with the same thing with Buddy!

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  25. Finn, I am so sorry you had to contend with some of the humans here. You probably didn’t know whether to climb on the table or to crawl under the bed (that’s what my dog used to do). Fingers crossed you won’t encounter any more storms 😉

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    • Thank you, Miss Kathy! I tried to crawl under the bed, but didn’t quite fit. Mom said that’s because I eat too many dog biscuits, but we all know there is no such thing as too many dog biscuits. So I’ll have to make do with the dining room table for now. And thanks, I hope the storms are over too! Love, Finn

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  26. Most of us would tend to dive Under the table if loud noises filled us with dread so guess most of us don’t get your logic Finn! No idea what your mum worries about, unless you do it mid-meal?

    I mean I bet she uses a table cloth when she uses it … so goes to show she doesn’t like it anyway and a few more scratches will only make it look better loved 🙂

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    • Actually, Mom’s exact words are: “I don’t eat where a dog’s butt has just been.” She takes issue with some of my personal hygiene habits, too. Mom’s a lovely person in many ways, but a bit of a clean freak and germ-a-phobe, if you ask me. I’m glad YOU understand, though! Love, Finn

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  27. Dear Finn,
    Ouch, I feel sorry for you. My ears used to hurt really badly whenever that silly fourth of July came about but thankfully people don’t do it much anymore here. Mum and dad were away for that date this year and I was safe inside. And my ears aren’t as good as they used to be anyway, so that’s something to look forward to. Anyway, chill out buddy and don’t worry too much about those storms. They’ll pass and everything will be good again.
    Love, Harry 🐶

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    • Thanks, Harry! I’ve heard that it does get better as we get older, because we don’t hear quite so well. I can’t say I was particularly looking forward to aging, but that sure does seem like a good thing! I’m glad they don’t do fireworks as much where you live anymore. It is scary and so hard on our ears! Good to hear from you, by the way. Love, Finn

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  28. Well said, Finn!! Scary Boom-Boom Day is hard enough on people, but it must be a zillion times worse for dogs whose hearing is so much better than ours. Here, we don’t need to go to the official fireworks show because so many of our neighbors bought the nasty things and set them off … for DAYS. That, plus the scary storms we’ve been having, have made for a pretty miserable summer so far. No wonder some of us are counting the days until Fall!

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    • You know, someone was shooting them off again last night! What were they thinking? The fourth of July was over days ago…. I’m glad you understand. Thanks for your support, Miss Debbie! Love, Finn

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  30. My pups also hated thunderstorms and fireworks, Finn. We used to take them on a far ride to avoid the noise. Now, this jumping onto the table thing… I’m not surprised your mom isn’t happy about that! Lol.

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    • Yeah, she’s still not happy about that, no matter how often I try to convince her it’s the sensible thing to do! But maybe if she took me on a drive away from all the noise, I wouldn’t feel the need to heighten. Thanks for the advice! Love, Finn

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    • A friend of mine was married to a man who served in active duty in Viet Nam, and both helicopters and fireworks always made him nervous. As for Finn, he is always quite sure the world is about to end whenever he hears them. Thanks for the comment!

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