While Traverse City gears up for this weekend’s Fourth of July and Festival Finale firework shows, some are preparing to keep their pets safe from the celebrations.
Trevor Tkach is President and CEO of Traverse City Tourism and the President of the Traverse City Boom Boom Club board.
For 14 years, the Boom Boom Club has been responsible for raising the funds to put on the annual Independence Day fireworks show.
Tkach said that the club works year-round on fundraising, always working on new strategies to find more donors.
The Fourth of July fireworks show is choreographed to a “special edition” playlist each year. Tkach said that the club may submit song requests, but they usually leave the choreography up to the professionals: Great Lakes Fireworks.
Tkach said that the best places to view the fireworks show are Open Space Park, Clinch Park, and the West End Park Beach Volleyball Courts, but anywhere along Grandview Parkway will have a great view.
“Everybody deserves a chance to have fun,” Tkach said. “Some things should be accessible to everybody, and this is, for me, is one of those things that I’m very passionate about. I think it’s important for our community.”
Though many agree with Tkach’s passion for the fireworks shows, some are opposed to the use of fireworks at all during the festival.
PETA is displaying a billboard at 2504 US-31 that reads, “When fireworks fly, animals die.”
In a letter to Festival Foundation CEO and Boom Boom Club board member Kat Paye, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk asked for Traverse City’s fireworks to be canceled.
Newkirk said that the sound of fireworks explosions is distressing to pets and wildlife, which could lead to their death if they try to “escape the chaos.”
Michelle Robishaw of the Bay Area Pet Hospital said that the hospital does see more lost pets during the Cherry Festival.
“Especially because there’s more people here than normal, you know, travelers and whatnot,” Robishaw said. “The pets don’t know the area anymore.”
She said that irregular noises, such as air show jets flying over and fireworks exploding, can cause pets to try to escape.
To keep pets safe during the upcoming firework shows, Robishaw recommends that owners keep the blinds drawn and lights on in the home, so they are unable to see the flashing lights.
She also encourages owners to keep their pets on a leash and away from windows.
If a pet is still in distress with these precautions, Robishaw said that speaking to a veterinarian about medication may be the next step.
In case a pet does get lost, having a recent photo and identification for the animal is recommended.
