View Point
View Point
I lost a dear friend last weekend, due to inconsiderate and lawless individuals. No. I am not referring to the driver of the car that hit Koa as he darted out into a busy street miles away from home. The driver was considerate and caring, and with a great deal of effort had transported Koa to a vet and awaited my arrival so he could explain what had happened and offer to pay the bill. With Koa’s death
another fireworks
foe is bornKoa's death was due to the selfish, uncaring, law breakers who shoot off illegal fireworks. You know the kind, the aerial bombs that go off and shake your whole house, nearly two weeks before New Year's eve when the mayhem is legal for a few hours.
While we were out to dinner Koa escaped from our yard through a hole he had torn in a chain link gate. The hole was triangularly shaped, 14 inches at the base and 6 1/2 inches at the apex. There is no way an animal the size of Koa should have gotten through that hole, but he did. Abject terror no doubt gave him the strength and will to do it. Both of his collars were left behind during his escape effort. I was out searching the neighborhood for Koa when the call from the vet came to the house. They had identified him through his imbedded I.D. chip.
His hindquarters were paralyzed, and he appeared to be in great pain. He couldn't even wag his tail when he saw me due to the paralysis. The X-ray told the story: his spine was badly fractured and displaced about three-quarters of an inch. The vet explained that even if he survived the surgery to repair his bone damage, he would remain paralyzed, unable to walk or to independently eliminate waste. I said goodbye to my friend.
The morning after his death, in addition to a great feeling of loss, I was damned mad. Mad at the louts who can't play by the rules, thereby terrorizing animals and inconveniencing people, and mad at the authorities who can't or won't enforce their own rules.
In the past, I have been opposed to a fireworks ban. After all, "we've always done it, it's a tradition." We can tranquilize our animals if need be, and those of us with respiratory problems can take the proper precautions.
And, after all, we hear people say, it's only two or three times a year.
But it's not only two or three times a year anymore. The fireworks explosions started about Dec. 10 and will probably last well into the new year. How many more people and animals will have to suffer so these selfish lawbreakers can have their fun?
I now will support a complete ban on private possession and use of fireworks with appropriate penalties for infractions. Hopefully, when such a ban is in place the police will be able to enforce it, and we and our pets can live in peace.
E. D. Cheeley was born and reared in Hawaii. He is a
retired construction worker who lives in Kaneohe.