The city of Santa Maria has a “zero tolerance” viewpoint against illegal fireworks, and within Santa Barbara County, it is against the law to have any fireworks, legal or illegal. Despite the city and county “zero tolerance” stance, this Fourth of July (beginning around Memorial Day), Santa Maria and Orcutt were described as “war zones,” and more than 200 animals were lost as they ran frantically and in terror to avoid the explosions that were going off around them from all directions. Some animals were injured and even killed as they were desperately seeking safety. Pet owners throughout Santa Maria and Orcutt were doing everything they could to keep their animals safe, and many did not participate in family get-togethers in order to stay home and protect their fur family.
A group of pet owners and concerned citizens attended the Santa Maria City Council meeting on July 7 and voiced their concerns regarding the illegal fireworks and how pets, as well as veterans and people who suffer from autism and other illnesses and disabilities, were affected by the loud explosions that were disturbing the peace and creating a harmful environment. We need the community of Santa Maria to show its support to put a stop to the illegal fireworks that continue to blast throughout Santa Maria and Orcutt. Enough is enough!
Something needs to be done to put a stop to this illegal and irrational behavior, which continues to plague our area. Santa Maria and Orcutt can either be an example of how to celebrate our nation’s freedom responsibly or it can be an example of how destructive and dangerous irresponsible celebrations can destroy a community. We want to make it a more positive example that is safe for not only our pets, but for those who suffer from PTSD/sound sensitivity, and to keep homes and land safe from fires which can be extremely dangerous during the severe drought we are currently facing. We need community support to help make SantaMaria a truly “All-America City” that celebrates safely and respectfully.
Get involved today by contacting me at libbydee66@gmail.com or by joining our Facebook group “Citizens for ‘Zero Tolerance’ of illegal fireworks” today!
This article appears in Aug 6-13, 2015.
