St. Catharines, ON Lost Male Dog, Auston Mathew Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

Jan C.

14 hours ago

Karen Richard McClellan IT IS TIME TO MOVE BEYOND FIREWORKS I know some people love fireworks. I know they are considered a tradition. But once we understand the harm something causes, we should be capable of changing. Fireworks are not harmless fun. They can be terrifying for veterans and others living with PTSD, particularly because the explosive blasts can be sudden, unpredictable and continue throughout neighbourhoods for hours or even several nights. For someone whose trauma is connected to gunfire, explosions or combat, what others call “entertainment” can trigger traumatic memories, panic, hypervigilance and profound distress. Imagine serving your country, surviving the horrors of war, coming home carrying those memories, and then being expected to endure random explosions throughout your own neighbourhood because someone else considers them “fun.” They are also devastating for companion animals. Dogs and cats may tremble uncontrollably, hide, panic, bolt through doors, jump fences, become lost, injure themselves trying to escape or run into traffic. Animals do not understand that the explosions are a celebration. They believe they are in danger. And then there is wildlife, which has nowhere to escape. Birds can panic and flee nests and roosting areas in terror. During nesting season, frightened parent birds may be driven away from nests containing eggs or helpless chicks, leaving those babies vulnerable to cold, hunger and predators. Birds startled into flight at night can become disoriented, collide with buildings or other structures, or exhaust themselves desperately trying to escape. Think about that for a moment. A mother bird is sitting on a nest of helpless babies when suddenly the sky erupts in deafening explosions. Every survival instinct tells her to flee. Her babies cannot follow. They cannot fly. They cannot hide. They simply remain behind, completely vulnerable. Rabbits, squirrels, deer, foxes and countless other wild animals can also bolt in terror, become separated from their young, abandon shelter, injure themselves or run blindly into roads. Wildlife does not know it is a holiday. They do not know the explosions will stop. And we cannot ignore the very real risk of fires. In many regions, fire season begins as early as June, precisely when summer fireworks celebrations are ramping up. At a time when forests, grasslands, fields and vegetation may already be dangerously dry, we are deliberately launching burning explosives into the air and simply hoping nothing goes wrong. One stray spark. One malfunctioning firework. One ember landing in dry grass or brush. That can be all it takes to ignite a fire that threatens wildlife habitat, homes and entire communities. Think about the contradiction. Governments warn people about drought and wildfire danger. Communities impose burn restrictions. Residents are told to avoid activities that can create sparks. Firefighters urge extreme caution. Yet fireworks are still treated as harmless entertainment. A fire does not just burn trees. Wildlife can be injured, killed or displaced. Nests, dens and entire habitats can be destroyed. Families can lose homes. Communities can be evacuated. Firefighters can be forced to risk their lives battling a blaze that never needed to start in the first place. All for a few minutes of explosions in the sky. And the most frustrating part is that we have wonderful alternatives. Laser light shows can be absolutely spectacular. Drone shows can be breathtaking. Projection displays and synchronized light shows can create extraordinary community celebrations without filling the night with deafening explosions. These alternatives are not second best. They can be stunning, imaginative and unforgettable. Entire stories can unfold across the night sky. Animals, flowers, stars, flags and moving images can appear overhead. Music can be synchronized with light. Communities can still gather, celebrate and experience something truly magical. So why are we still acting as though the choice is fireworks or no fun at all? That is simply not true. We can have beauty without terror. We can have excitement without explosions. We can celebrate without traumatizing veterans with PTSD. We can entertain families without sending terrified pets fleeing for their lives. We can create wonder without panicking nesting birds and vulnerable wildlife. We can celebrate without adding an unnecessary fire risk during increasingly dangerous fire seasons. Tradition is not a reason to ignore suffering or preventable danger. Technology has moved forward. Our compassion should move forward too. It is time for communities to invest in laser shows, drone shows, projection displays and other modern alternatives that allow people to celebrate without forcing vulnerable people, animals and wildlife to pay the price for our entertainment. We do not need less celebration. We need better celebration. It is time to move beyond fireworks.

Marelene C.

1 day ago

Keep your pets indoors when there are fireworks.... Animals are terrified of the noise.....wish they would stop fireworks all together

Janice N.

1 day ago

Hope you find him.

Barbara B.

2 days ago

Jan Chytra My min pin watches them with me! Other dogs I’ve had, not a chance.

Tracey B.

3 days ago

Dog has been found