Tess
Everybody loves a party and the 4th of July is a big party for the United States. Mom says it’s a day when people celebrate what’s good about being an American.
I’m as patriotic as the next mutt, even though my breed is named after Australia. I’m not sure how that happened, but I’m okay with it.
Tess is patriotic too. She’s really glad to live in a country where dogs are valued.
For Tess and thousands like her, the 4th of July is a time of terror. Tess is one of those unlucky dogs that’s scared of loud noises, and the 4th of July is all about loud.
When we lived in the city we were ten blocks away from a huge fireworks party. Thousands of people walked past our house to get to the fireworks. Sometimes they brought their own firecrackers and tossed them in our yard.
Codie was terrified by fireworks and thunder. When the popping started she’d shake like a leaf and drool. Then she’d go crazy. One time she heard a pop real close. She bolted right through the screen door and would have kept on going if mom hadn’t tackled her. After that we always left town and hid out in the mountains where people weren’t so crazy.
We know Tess was picked up as a stray on July 5th. We’re pretty sure she freaked out and ran off from her first family. That’s why we watch her so close this time of year.
Last night our idiot neighbors were shooting off really loud bangers. Tess started shaking and crawled up on mom’s head. We quick gave her some herbal stuff that helps her stay calm, but it was too late. Tess had already lost her mind. Mom held her tight and put her anxiety vest on but Tess was in her own kind of hell.
Tess finally squeezed herself under the bed and shook for hours. Even when the poppers stopped she wouldn’t come out. Tess is going for a ride in the truck today to get her out of the neighborhood. We put her on a leash in the truck so if she tries to bolt she can’t go anywhere.
I’m sure glad this big party will be over soon. It makes me sad to see Tess all freaked out and know so many other dogs are scared to death. And what about the birds and rabbits and the deer. They must wonder if the people have all gone nuts.
Lucky for me I’m not scared by loud noises. The fireworks make me mad but they don’t scare me. Jack and Nellie are deaf and can’t hear the fireworks so they’re fine.
Next time you want to toss a cherry bomb, think about some poor mutt hiding under a bed. Maybe there is some other way you could celebrate the 4th of July. It’s quiet now so I’m gonna run the fence with Tess. See ya!