Fireworks and the Fourth: A Time to Celebrate — and Reflect
Consider a pet-friendly celebration this year!
As a veterinarian, I love the Fourth of July. It’s a time to celebrate freedom, gather with loved ones, and honor the founding of our country. But I also dread it—and not because I don’t enjoy the festivities. I dread it because, for so many animals and individuals in our community, this holiday is not a celebration, but a source of acute stress, fear, and sometimes even trauma.
The sights and sounds of fireworks are iconic, but they’re not without consequence. Each year, we see a spike in pets lost, injured, or brought into clinics after panicking and fleeing their homes. According to the ASPCA, more pets go missing on July 4th than on any other day of the year. The sharp, unpredictable bangs of fireworks can be terrifying to dogs, cats, and wildlife alike. Even pets that are usually calm can suddenly become disoriented, destructive, or run away in fear.
But it’s not just domestic animals. A 2022 study published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment found that fireworks can displace thousands of birds at a time, disrupting nesting colonies and leading to fatal disorientation. One 2011 incident in Arkansas, for example, resulted in over 5,000 red-winged blackbirds falling dead from the sky following a New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
And we must not forget our veterans and community members with PTSD. The loud, unpredictable blasts that we associate with celebration can trigger painful memories and panic responses for those who have experienced combat or other trauma. If we are truly to honor our nation’s heroes, we must acknowledge that fireworks can unintentionally harm them.
So what can we do?
We’re not calling for an end to celebration—but for a shift in how we celebrate. Silent or low-noise fireworks are now widely available and are already used in some municipalities. These fireworks maintain the spectacle of light and color without the concussive booms that cause harm. Communities can also consider drone light shows, which are increasingly being used in cities like San Diego and New York as innovative, eco-friendly alternatives.
At a local level, we can each make choices that support safety and compassion. If you plan to celebrate at home, consider avoiding backyard fireworks altogether. Instead, attend organized city events that use sound-moderated displays, or advocate for your city to explore drone or laser shows in future years. These are spectacular, safe, and much less likely to send a ripple of panic through your neighborhood.
As a veterinarian, I’ve seen firsthand the damage fireworks can cause—from broken teeth and torn paws as pets try to escape, to deep-seated anxiety that can last for days. And as a member of a larger community, I know we’re capable of celebrating our independence with joy and empathy.
This Fourth of July, let’s keep the celebration—and leave the fear behind.
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Dr. Abby Sullivan, DVM
Two Rivers Vet Hospital, West Fargo ND
