Fireworks Phobia

Although Pongo is scared of thunderstorms, his phobia of fireworks is far greater. I discovered this soon after I adopted him. It is illegal for individuals to set off fireworks in Washington, DC, but every 4^th of July, there was a city show that tens of thousands of people would watch from the grounds of the Smithsonian or from boats on the Potomac. There would, of course, be a few random fireworks set off in our neighborhood, but the ban was well-enforced. Thankfully, the city show would last for about an hour and then be over. Pongo would shake uncontrollably and pace, but by one in the morning, he’d settle down and I could go to sleep. It was one day of the year and we could get through it.

When Pongo and I moved to Seattle in 2006, I lived on Beacon Hill and although fireworks were banned in the city, there were two teenage boys who lived on the next street over, and liked to set off bottle rockets. Incidentally, though it wasn’t 4^th of July, they ended up accidentally setting a garage on fire and that was the end of that nonsense.

But all of that was nothing in comparison to where we live now. In a small community situated between Indian Reservations, residents ignore local fireworks laws. The city allows fireworks during certain hours for a few days during the first week of July and on New Years Day. But in my neighborhood, the fireworks start one to two weeks before July 4^th and continue daily for a minimum of three weeks. What’s worse is that the fireworks being set off are like bombs, purchased on the Indian reservations, these fireworks are illegal EXCEPT on the Indian reservation, yet they are sold to individuals who travel to buy them. They go home and set them off in other cities. In conversations with local police and fire department, as well as the city council, officials admit that they don’t have the budget to enforce the law.

In an attempt to get through the 4^th of July, I have tried everything. You name it, we’ve tried it! Pongo’s vet has prescribed a variety of medications, none of which really solve the problem. He still suffers, and I along with him. If I have gone to bed and fireworks are set off in the middle of the night, Pongo will begin panting and pacing. I am a light sleeper and usually this alone will wake me up. But if it doesn’t, then Pongo will whine, and sometimes jump up on the bed and sit on me. Being 53 pounds, Pongo is not a lap dog. When he is in this state of anxiety, there is nothing I can do to reassure him, but he wants me to be with him. The holiday season leaves me sleep deprived and irritable.

Last year, I purchased an Anxiety Wrap off of the internet. It is basically a shirt that you can adjust at the neckline and the waist, then has a piece of material that wraps around his midsection and velcros to provide extra support. This piece is also adjustable. The Anxiety Wrap was developed based on the theory of delivering accupressure at key points. Similar to how a weighted vest helps to calm autistic children, the Anxiety Wrap has been shown to have a calming effect on dogs. In watching online videos, and reading their literature, I was very hopeful this would be a solution for us. While it has been helpful in reducing Pongo’s overall anxiety, it has not been a miracle product for us. It seems to help more with thunderstorms and the quieter, intermittent fireworks, but he still paces and wants me by his side. And so I find myself reluctantly returning to medication. 

It’s one thing to medicate your dog one or two nights a year, but it’s impossible to medicate your dog daily for three weeks. So we now have a tradition of leaving town for the entire first week of July. Pongo and I go to visit my parents in Pullman, a small town in Eastern Washington. Fireworks are allowed for a few days, but there are very few set off in my parents’ neighborhood. There is a community fireworks show on Sunnyside Hill and it’s a family event where people picnic and spend the evening listening to bands and enjoy the summer weather. Residents obey the fireworks laws, and they don’t set off illegal fireworks that sound like you’re in the midst of World War III.  

As I write this, Pongo is sleeping on his side. He’s had a combination of Alprazolam and Acepromazine.* We are in the basement, where it is cool and quiet. I’ve turned on a fan for background noise. The worst of the fireworks is yet to come, but we have prepared for it. Pongo had two walks today, and he has peed and pooped. Hopefully, we will get through the noise without a lot of drama. 

                                             Pongo wearing his Anxiety Wrap last night


*Please consult a vet before giving your dog any medication.  Dosages are calculated by your dog's weight and can be lethal if not administered correctly.