Last night (July24), I'm sitting in the Flying J in Salt Lake City. July 24th is Pioneer Day in Utah, a state holiday. They set off fireworks for the celebration. The official fireworks were several miles away and couldn't be heard.

I took my two border collies out to potty about 1030 pm. As I was standing there watching them do their business, some jerk decides to set off illegal fireworks at the other end of the parking lot. Blizzard, my white BC freaked out and took off. Jerked the leash right out of my hand.

I thank God that there weren't any trucks moving at that moment and I was able to safely find and retrieve her. Once I got her back in the truck, she sat and just shivered in fear for a little while. I know that this breed is usually more sensitive to loud noises and so made this potentially worse.

To the twit that set off those fireworks: If I'm ever lucky enough to find you, I'm going to see to it you pay dearly for what you did.

To everybody else: Please think of the potential consequences before you do something so stupid in a very crowded parking lot. Not only for the possible harm to animals, but what if there had been a flammable load of something close by with fumes leaking? That could have injured or killed many more than just my dogs.

Thanks and be safe,

Duane

At the risk of sounding bad, it is your responsibility to always have the animal in control.

I have had many large dogs and they tend to run after critters when walked. If they got loose, think of the problems I would have had if the critter was hurt.

I would have been classified an irresponsible owner.


In a truck stop, with a dog that is extremely jumpy, you have no choice but to have better control.

If a car backfires, is that a jerk if you cannot be in control?

I gotta side with Roadmedic on this one.

Not that I don't sympathize with duane for having the #### scared out of his dog, but as a dog owner, one is required to have the animal under control in most states.

I apologize for not responding back before now.

I agree that I am required to have the dog under control. I wonder though how much more control one can have when the dog is on a leash and I was already outside before the ILLEGAL fireworks were set off. I imagine you all will say I shouldn't have gone outside with the animal. Perhaps, but I don't particularly like dog #### in my truck. I imagine the next response will be that I shouldn't have a dog in my truck. Perhaps, but I think the dog is far better company than most humans.

I'll be sure to pat the gentleman on the back if I catch him for setting off the ILLEGAL fireworks in a crowded truckstop. And I'll be sure to stay out of the FJ in Salt Lake so this can't happen again.

Have a good day.

Duane

What are you a gang banger or something, your most intelligent response is violence? Or, are you going to wuss out and say "I never said violence, I said pay dearly"?

The truth is they did something stupid, people do stupid stuff all the time. Maybe you should just forgive, forget and move on...

Oh, and I am sure the Flying J in Salt Lake will miss your business horribly lol

No one is saying that you should have kept the dog in the truck.

My dogs are large. Fireworks are ILLEGAL in my town.

When walking the dog who weighs over 100 lbs and very strong, if someone sets them off, they are causing him to jump because my large dog also does not like fireworks.

Guess what, I had sufficient control of my dog because I expect the unexpected.