JUNE 28, 2018 // 9
Mooring Basin.
Over in Washington, Ocean Park
offers their Old-Fashioned Fourth of July
parade. The parade starts at 1 p.m. at U
Street and Bay Avenue, west to Vernon
Avenue, then south to 256th Street, where
the parade disbands. Be sure to watch for
the shopping cart drill team!
Long Beach puts on a spectacular fire-
works show, set off in front of the Board-
walk from 9:30 to 10 p.m. There are also
fireworks before and after the main show
along the length of the beach.
Be safe
The behind-the-scenes work that en-
sures everyone has a safe, exciting cel-
ebration begins well before the holiday
and continues when the big day is
over.
“We plan on working long shifts
during the Fourth of July,” Seaside Police
Department’s Lt. Bruce Holt said.
Flint Wright, Long Beach police chief,
said the biggest problem the police de-
partment faces is the mixture of alcohol
and explosives. Scheduling extra patrols
is part of the pre-Fourth planning.
“I never know what to expect when the
Fourth is in the middle of the week like
it is this year,” Wright said. “If it falls on
a Saturday or Sunday, I figure the busiest
time will probably be Friday, Saturday
and Sunday. Or Saturday, Sunday and
Monday.”
With the Fourth on a Wednesday,
Wright tries to cover the whole week.
In the past, people camped on the
beach, but since the State Parks Depart-
ment ended beach camping, things have
gotten much better. “It’s made a huge
difference,” Wright said.
Something the public can do to help:
If you pack it in, pack it out. Wright also
advises people not to overindulge in
alcohol, and be sure to have a designated
driver.
From left, Neveah Beeler, Makaly Heiz and Nicholas Sanders watch their fireworks take off at sunset in Long Beach in 2017.
Anxious animals
While not first responders in the tradi-
tional sense, veterinarians often deal with
problems created by a pet’s exposure to
holiday festivities.
“We worry about two main things
during the Fourth of July holiday,” Dr.
Ruth Sheppard of Oceanside Animal
Clinic said. “The first is pets getting
lost or injured because they bolt when
startled.
“The second issue we see is profound
stress and anxiety, which is obviously
very distressing for both the pet and its
owner,” she said.
This added stress can lead to medical
issues such as gastrointestinal upset and
increased risk of infection.
This member of the AARP chose to walk in
the 2016 Long Beach parade in colorful eye-
wear and a flamboyant hat.
“Owners can limit their pets’ exposure
to anxiety triggers, like fireworks, by
setting up a ‘quiet zone’ in their home if
possible,” she said. “In some cases, giv-
ing a mild sedative before the fireworks
start can be greatly beneficial. Every pet
is a little bit different, so a consultation
with a veterinarian is always a good
idea.”
The risk of a pet getting lost or injured
is much higher when an animal is in
unfamiliar territory, so definitely stay on
leash, she said.
Also, microchipping your pet increas-
es the chances of a successful reunion.
Owners should make sure that their con-
tact information is up to date and regis-
tered with the microchip company.
Commercial products are available to
help keep pets calm, including calming
pheromones and thunder shirts, Dr. Raela
Hale, also of Oceanside Animal Clinic,
said.
Her advice: During the fireworks
keep all pets indoors, and give them a
safe space where they feel comfortable,
like a room or even a kennel or crate.
Shut the blinds or curtains to avoid the
flashing fireworks. Play the television or
music at a normal volume to help mask
the fireworks sounds. In some cases,
pets may even benefit from anti-anxi-
ety medication available through your
veterinarian. CW
DANNY MILLER PHOTO
In 2016, Isabella Churchill, then 4, reacts to
the parade in front of her during Warrenton’s
Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Parade.