What fireworks does to dogs

Cleopatra (the happy boerboel) writes:

November 6, 2016

1 minute read

My name is Cleopatra and I live in Mowbray Avenue, Western Extension with my two friends Skyla and Duke.

Send your letters to bctletters@caxton.co.za

We are all happy, much-loved rescue dogs, but recently we didn’t know whether to bark or cry.

It is Sunday night and we are shivering with fear, agitated and panting.

It sounds like there are people shooting guns outside and we thought one nearly went off outside our window.

I can’t stop my friendly Skyla from trembling and I’m dribbling. (I never dribble.)

Duke keeps licking my owner’s legs and trying to get onto the chairs.

Duke normally never comes inside, he is our outside guard dog.

Oh no … another gun has gone off.

My owners are talking about tranquillisers; I don’t know what they mean, or the meaning of Deepavali.

Our owners keep hugging us and telling us it will all be over soon.

We must just hold on and we are safe, but I can’t stop panting.

It seems to have stopped now … oh no … there’s another one and it’s loud … rat tat tat, like a gun.

Duke is whining now, but he is normally so brave.

I’m hearing whines in my head from dogs who feel the same way; living in other houses around me.

My owners have put some music on, please let it end soon.