Thirty Dogs Killed Fleeing Fireworks in Tucson

Fourth of July fireworks led to the deaths of more than thirty dogs in and around Tucson, Arizona. Frightened out of their wits by the loud explosions and brilliant flashes of light, the dogs ran out into the street where they were struck and killed by motorists.

Since canines have been known to break free of both leashes and tethers, jump fences, and even to charge through screen doors when spooked by pyrotechnics, one cannot help but question the diligence of their owners. Why did they leave their dogs unattended? After all, Tucson and Pima County officials readily concede that Fourth of July fireworks kill between five and six dogs each year. Curiously, no explanation has been given for the abnormally high canine death toll this Independence Day.

The conduct of motorists must also be questioned. For instance, how many of them actually tried to avoid striking the frightened dogs as opposed to gleefully stomping on the gas and purposefully running them down? Contrary to the lies told by motorists, just about all animal (and pedestrian!) traffic fatalities are deliberate. Equipped with advanced suspension systems, power brakes, and power steering, even tour buses can be stopped on a dime; moreover, fleet-footed animals, such as cats and squirrels in particular, are not that easy to run down. Motorists must -- and most times do -- make an effort in order to be successful in this deadly game.

As horrific as fireworks are to domestic animals they are undoubtedly even more destructive to wildlife. Without human companions to turn to for solace and shelter, birds, squirrels, rabbits, deer, foxes, feral cats, and small rodents have a much more difficult time dealing with the loud intruders into their wooded habitats. Although difficult to quantify, wildlife fatalities resulting from Fourth of July fireworks must nonetheless be high.

Even though they are as American as apple pie, Fourth of July pyrotechnics are not only a nuisance to homeowners but deadly to both domestic animals and wildlife alike. Officials in Tucson and elsewhere should restrict their use to commercial sites, such as ballparks, where they are less likely to frighten animals, literally, to death. It would be better still to ban this obnoxious and deadly practice altogether.