Sanity check: My kelpies got anxiety. There were some fireworks over the weekend in the middle of suburbia for some carnival thing. We didnt know, and it took 30-45 minutes to get a poor traumatized dog out of his kennel to come inside for a cuddle on the couch.
I’m speaking to the vet to get some anti anxiety meds. I just asked the council if there was some sort of site or list to get notified on planned fireworks (since the council have to approve them anyway) they said there wasn’t but I could put in a request in writing.
Am I being THAT guy if I send an email to the council just saying "Hey, it’d be really awesome if you updated your request form so that when you approve the fireworks it sends out an email or updates a web page saying “Fireworks approved for this date and time at this location”? the oval thing they use is surrounded by housing estates, seems like a really simple thing to do to make a dog (and his owners) life a bit easier? Or am I being a NIMBY?
Not at all a NIMBY. It sounds like a great suggestion, and is really something they should already be doing. You might want to consider either sending it to your local councillor as well, or at least sending them a copy, as if they push the idea it will tend to get things happening much quicker. It’s the sort of thing that should be fairly easy for them to implement and is also likely to be popular without upsetting anyone, so they might be happy to jump on board to push the idea forward. I’d suggest an opt-in email list that people could sign up to, which could be advertised to pet owners with the registration renewal notices.
That’s a fantastic idea! I don’t know if those Asian cracker bunches count for firework approvals, but I’ve had them let off meters from the house without warning before --panicking both me and the cats.
If there is notice, I start playing some thumpy music (like Rammstein) very low several hours beforehand and up the volume every half hour or so. Seems to help somewhat. There is also a thing called a Thumdercoat.
I don’t think this is NIMBY, I think it’s very very reasonable. My only note is that your council might never do anything about it (iirc you are in Casey?) but I’m sure you know all about managing your own expectations when it comes to getting the cogs moving in local government…
Do it, a warning gives you the chance to start medicating pup ahead of time (some recommend taking it a few days before a stressful event) and make sure he’s inside when the noise begins.
I’m not sure how effective it would be on a kennel without a door but you can buy stick on soundproofing foam intended for musicians. Perhaps try it inside an enclosed space like built in wardrobe or a ‘litterbox cabinet’ so there’s a quiet place to hide?
Sanity check: My kelpies got anxiety. There were some fireworks over the weekend in the middle of suburbia for some carnival thing. We didnt know, and it took 30-45 minutes to get a poor traumatized dog out of his kennel to come inside for a cuddle on the couch. I’m speaking to the vet to get some anti anxiety meds. I just asked the council if there was some sort of site or list to get notified on planned fireworks (since the council have to approve them anyway) they said there wasn’t but I could put in a request in writing.
Am I being THAT guy if I send an email to the council just saying "Hey, it’d be really awesome if you updated your request form so that when you approve the fireworks it sends out an email or updates a web page saying “Fireworks approved for this date and time at this location”? the oval thing they use is surrounded by housing estates, seems like a really simple thing to do to make a dog (and his owners) life a bit easier? Or am I being a NIMBY?
Be That Guy. You’ve found a hole in the system that needs plugging.
It ain’t just for dogs, people get triggered by that shit too.
Seems reasonable to me.
Not at all a NIMBY. It sounds like a great suggestion, and is really something they should already be doing. You might want to consider either sending it to your local councillor as well, or at least sending them a copy, as if they push the idea it will tend to get things happening much quicker. It’s the sort of thing that should be fairly easy for them to implement and is also likely to be popular without upsetting anyone, so they might be happy to jump on board to push the idea forward. I’d suggest an opt-in email list that people could sign up to, which could be advertised to pet owners with the registration renewal notices.
That’s a fantastic idea! I don’t know if those Asian cracker bunches count for firework approvals, but I’ve had them let off meters from the house without warning before --panicking both me and the cats.
If there is notice, I start playing some thumpy music (like Rammstein) very low several hours beforehand and up the volume every half hour or so. Seems to help somewhat. There is also a thing called a Thumdercoat.
Great idea. It’d be low effort for them and would probably save them money on having to deal with/catch escaped dogs roaming the streets.
Councils tend to be more fragmented and disconnected than most orgs though so it’ll be a matter of getting to the right person.
I hope the poor pup’s ok. I grew up with kelpies and they’re such beautiful dogs.
At minimum councils should have help pages for pet owners regarding fireworks.
They want to regulate fireworks then they have the responsibility to make sure it goes smoothly and safely.
I don’t think this is NIMBY, I think it’s very very reasonable. My only note is that your council might never do anything about it (iirc you are in Casey?) but I’m sure you know all about managing your own expectations when it comes to getting the cogs moving in local government…
Do it, a warning gives you the chance to start medicating pup ahead of time (some recommend taking it a few days before a stressful event) and make sure he’s inside when the noise begins.
I’m not sure how effective it would be on a kennel without a door but you can buy stick on soundproofing foam intended for musicians. Perhaps try it inside an enclosed space like built in wardrobe or a ‘litterbox cabinet’ so there’s a quiet place to hide?