Summer Dogcation: Escape to Central Oregon

Sometimes a dog's just gotta get away. That's what I decided last 4th of July when my beautiful wooded neighborhood turned in to a war zone. The noise lasted a good part of the week and came to a rousing crescendo on July 4th. I think humans were celebrating something, but it was hard to be to get into the mood. I was cowering in my bunker in the master bathroom most of the time.

4th of July 2015 was horrible!

So this year was completely different. We had already researched fireworks-free vacation areas. I couldn't go to the beach because they allowed fireworks. I couldn't go to my country cousin's home because they allowed fireworks, and besides, they moved into a tiny place.

So we found just the place. A place that is so dry, they never allow fireworks. It was Sunriver, Oregon. In fact, Sunriver has a company that specializes in dog-friendly vacation home rentals. We got on the Bennington Properties website and found a house that would be perfect for our 4th of July grand exit from Vancouver, WA. Here's a list of their "Dog-loving Vacation Rentals." And here's the house we chose. We did everything online and our Dogcation was all arranged a year before.

Here's our rental house. We rented it on July 5th, 2015

So the day finally came. July 1st, to be exact. I had already heard a few pops so I knew it was time to get going. We packed the car with our beds, food, leashes and toys. We were loaded down so I got to ride shotgun with Francesca in the crate in the back.

Here I am. I'm in charge of the GPS.

It was a long ride... about 3 hours. When we pulled up, the house was all ready for us. We had to stay on a tie-out for a little bit while our owner unpacked. Francesca got in trouble because the tie-out was long enough for her to bust in on the neighbor's deck party while they were having chips and salsa. Needless to say, she didn't get any. Our tie-outs were promptly moved to the back of the house. When we got inside we saw our beds in place in the living room and something very interesting on the kitchen counter.

Welcome treats!

Things were looking up. However, at dinnertime, I wasn't very hungry. All that driving made my tummy a bit queasy. So I just wanted to rest. Francesca was already complaining because it was hotter in Sunriver than it was at home.

Francesca was hot so she laid down next to the A/C vent

Soon it was bedtime. We were both very tired after the trip. We were glad to see our beds and toys.

Here we are on our beds with NO fireworks to bother us!

Before we went to sleep, Francesca and I read the Sunriver magazine and picked out some activities. We thought a boat trip on the Deschutes River sounded nice and cool, and the 4th of July parade, which included dogs, would be worth seeing.

So what did we do on our vacation? Read Part II and find out!

Love, Cinnamon

An Open Letter to Vancouver USA: To the Mayor, to the City Council and to my fellow Citizens

Executive Director
Dogs Against Fireworks

Dear Vancouver:

Last night I received the news that the Vancouver City Council voted unanimously to ban personal fireworks in 2017. I am thrilled with the news and hope that a strong educational campaign and good enforcement plan will ensue.

If anyone has missed what we went through during the "2015 Season of Terror," just click on the July archives from this blog. It's all there in gory details. I can't read it. It brings the terror back. I and all the pets of Vancouver are rejoicing. I'm sure my friends don't like being drugged for a week during 4th of July and I certainly don't want to go through building a bunker in a shower like I did this year. (I have to admit I was still scared).

I want to publicly thank Mayor Leavitt and the entire Vancouver City Council for caring enough about the health and safety (and sanity) of the people of our city (and, of course the pets).

Cruel People
I've been reading the comments in The Columbian today. There are many cruel people out there who don't care. They say they will shoot them off anyway. That it is their right. Why is it their right to do things that terrify us? Why is it their right to set things off that might cause our home to burn down? I don't understand that. Don't I have a right to a fear-free life? That's what my owner is trying to provide for me.

Fund Raisers
There are also people out there who think their rights to raising funds for schools and charities are being curtailed. Well, yes! Why would you want to sell something that might harm children and burn down people's homes. Plus, why would you want to sell something that SCARES PEOPLE AND DOGS?

How can people, in good conscience, sell these things.

I think pets have rights too. That is why we have organizations like the Southwest Washington Humane Society. They believe we have a right to a home, food and a cruelty-free life. And they are the ones to take in the animals who are running scared on the streets on the 4th of July... those that make it, anyway.

I believe I have a right to be in my own backyard over the 4th of July week. I believe I have a right to be medication free. I believe I have a right to join my family for a friendly picnic and not hear the POP, BOOM, BANG of terrifying fire works.

With rights comes social responsibility.

I believe that Vancouver USA cares. And I thank you.

Love, Cinnamon

Fireworks Blog: July 6, 2015

Here's my cushy bed.
It's where I belong!

This will be the last entry for the 2015 "Season of Terror."

Last night I heard just a few fireworks. Yes, they were illegal but people don't care. If they have them, they shoot them off.

I trotted back to the bunker when I heard them but was very relieved that more didn't follow and slept ALL NIGHT on my regular cushy bed. I was rather proud of myself for relaxing enough to do that.

So today we are dismantling the bunker and putting everything away. The great news is that we are going away FOR A WHOLE WEEK next July. I will not be home for the 2016 "Season of Terror." I am so glad!

Love, Cinnamon

Fireworks Blog: July 5, 2015

All I can say about last night is that it was SO BAD that I tried to melt myself into the quilts in my bunker. I wouldn't come out to go potty or to have a sip of water. I just stayed there until it was over.... somewhere around 2 a.m. It was SO BAD I don't want to talk any more about it.

Here I am praying in my bunker.

So what I really want to talk about is what the morning was like. It was so smokey last night my eyes hurt. But this morning it was beautiful and clear.... and quiet!

I could hear the squirrels scampering on the fence and I got up and chased them away! I felt so good I wanted to play ball at 7 a.m. I felt so good I didn't need my bunker anymore. I just hope it doesn't start again tonight. That's illegal but people around here don't seem to care.

I play keep away with two balls. The object of the game is to keep them both.
It was still wet out this morning. We hosed down the yards and the eaves of the house.
The fireworks were that bad.

I romped and rolled and reveled in the sheer joy of the cool, QUIET, morning.

The best thing about the 5th of July is that it's not the 4th of July!

Love, Cinnamon

Cinnamon survived the 4th of July

Free at last! I think I'll go to the beach!

Hi, it's me, Cinnamon... and I survived. Last night it all started around 4pm. The Pop! Boom! Crackle! I thought I had it made because it has been almost a week of Pop! Boom! Crackle! and certainly the people in Vancouver, WA had run out of fireworks... WRONG!

Last night was a dog's nightmare. They had more Pop! Boom! Crackle! than I could ever imagine. It sounded like a war zone at my house. My owner closed all the windows and set the radio to my favorite classical music station. But that wasn't enough.

The Boom! echoed in the woods. The Crackle! never stopped and the Pop! got louder and louder. Why do people do this? I heard it was to celebrate independence. But for us dogs, it was all about IMPRISONMENT! The only place I felt safe was in my crate.

I did hear about some pretty caring things humans did for dogs during this difficult time. One man packed up his dog and headed for the Wallowa Mountains in eastern Oregon. In my old home, Santa Fe, New Mexico volunteers gathered at the animal shelter during fireworks time to calm the dogs and help them through the evening. HOWEVER... some uncaring humans decided to have the big fireworks celebration at the park right next to the shelter. IMAGINE!

But for all my ranting, the Fourth of July will go on. I just have to figure out some nice place to go next year where they don't like all the Pop! Boom! Crackle! either.

Here's a cartoon that dogs will appreciate. I know I do! Grrrrrrrrrr

Cinnamon Says... Take care of your pet on the Fourth of July... please!

Dogs Against Fireworks: Is it 4th of July yet?

Pop! Boom! Crackle! What the heck is this? I HATE 4th of July. I can't stand the sounds. I want this TO STOP NOW!

Cinnamon HATES Fireworks!

This is my first 4th of July in a place that doesn't care about dogs. I am in Vancouver, WA and here it is the end of June and every night they set off fireworks. Now, I don't want to be scared, but I am. My owner closes windows, has moved my crate downstairs to a place far from windows but I still get scared.

Each evening it happens... Pop! Boom! Crackle! I find a new place to hide each night. One night it was under my desk, here. Another night it was in the hall under the hall table... you know, the one with Kachinas on it. (Their magic didn't help me!).

Zozobra was scary but it was only for one night.

I'm 5 and you'd think I would be used to it but.... in Santa Fe, where I grew up there just weren't that many private fireworks. I guess people were afraid of forest fires. 

And, in September during Fiesta they burned Zozobra and had tons of fireworks. But that was only ONE NIGHT!

Now if you, hounds and friends of hounds, agree with me, take this "Dogs Against Fireworks" graphic and put it on YOUR Facebook page or blog.

I think Clark County, here has gone crazy. They allow fireworks to be sold and fireworks to be set off.

Clearly they don't care about hounds like ME!

Love, Cinnamon, the sleepless hound.

More Information
Helping Your Dog Cope with Fireworks
Washington State Fireworks Laws