06/05/2026
Fireworks tonight
FIREWORKS tonight in Norfolk:
Hello everyone,
Here is your friendly reminder that tonight there will be fireworks at the Freeman Kennedy School! Let's remember to set our animals up for success during this whether it's cats, dogs, livestock, etc.
For dogs and cats the best thing you can do is make them feel safe, secure and comfortable. Do they have a favorite bed, blanket, crate, room, etc? Make sure they have access to their favorites. Some good low pitch classical music will also have a calming affect for them and distract them auditorily. Keeping them in a secure room, behind a closed door without other escape means will also help in case they start panicking. And above all, make sure they have their ID's on in the event they do bolt and get lost. If your dog needs sedation hopefully you have already called your vet for that and you're ready to administer before the event. And in a last resort, if your pets cannot be calmed at home, sometimes taking them for a drive outside of earshot is the best solution (as long as they like the car- no sense in exchanging one negative stimulus for another).
Livestock can benefit from some of the above as well. Make sure they are well hydrated, go ahead and keep them in the barn tonight (or at least until after the show) if they are normally outside at night. Throw some classical music on for them as well. Extra forage to keep them munching and occupied is a bonus. We do not advise bringing Seabiscuit, Ferdinand or Wilber into your home or taking them for a drive.
Hopefully, everyone has a great time tonight for the fireworks. Please think twice about bringing your pets to the event. So much can go wrong, it's not worth the risk.
