Home » Santa Clarita News » Events » Holiday » Fourth Of July: Keep Safety In Mind For Santa Clarita Valley Pets, Veterans, Fire Prevention
Photos courtesy of CNN, Randy Robertson.

Fourth Of July: Keep Safety In Mind For Santa Clarita Valley Pets, Veterans, Fire Prevention

While Santa Clarita Valley families are enjoying the Fourth of July weekend, make sure to keep safety in mind for pets, veterans and preventing fires.


Sponsored Articles


Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking Santa Clarita news alerts delivered right to your inbox.

Tips For Keeping Pets Safe During The Fourth of July Weekend

The following is a news release courtesy of the Los Angeles County Department of Animals Care and Control.

The Fourth of July, once coined as the busiest day for the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC), City Of Santa Clarita Hosting Canine Clinic To Promote Healthy Petshas been replaced by July 5th.  “We see an increase in strays running on our local freeways, pets found far from home and injured animals,” said Marcia Mayeda, DACC Director. Dogs and cats can become startled and disoriented by the sound of fireworks, activating their flight instinct. DACC would like to remind pet owners that extra precautions are necessary in order to protect pets during Fourth of July celebrations. To ensure the safety of your pets, here are a few tips:

  •         Make sure your pet is microchipped, his license is current and be sure the tags are securely affixed to your pet’s collar.
  •         Keep your pets indoors in a cool, comfortable place with some “white noise” distraction such as a radio or television.
  •         Do not keep your pets in the backyard or tied up. Dogs, in particular, may panic and injure themselves on a rope or chain.
  •         Do not take your pets to community fireworks events.  Most events do not allow pets.  The noise and other activities at these events can easily surprise and frighten your pet.
  •         If you are leaving town for the weekend and cannot take your pets with you, make sure you leave them with someone who will be cautious and responsible during the Fourth of July celebrations.

If your pet becomes lost or if you wish to turn in a found animal, DACC’s animal care centers will be open for that particular service on Saturday, July 4, 2015.  If you witness animal cruelty or an animal in distress, please call (562) 940-6898 or call 911. For all other services, DACC’s animal care centers will resume normal business hours on Sunday, July 5, 2015.

The addresses to the animal care centers are:

  1.    Agoura Animal Care Center- 29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, 91301
  2.    Baldwin Park Animal Care Center – 4275 N. Elton St., Baldwin Park, 91706
  3.    Carson Animal Care Center – 216 W. Victoria St., Gardena, 90248
  4.    Castaic Animal Care Center – 31044 N. Charlie Canyon Rd., Castaic 91384
  5.    Downey Animal Care Center – 11258 S. Garfield Ave., Downey 90242
  6.    Lancaster Animal Care Center – 5210 W. Avenue I, Lancaster 93536

For more information, you can visit our website, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @LACoAnimalCare.

Fireworks Are ILLEGAL, Here Are Some Consequences Of Using Illegal Fireworks

The following is a news release courtesy of Captain Roosevelt Johnson of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

4th of July FireworksAs the July 4th weekend approaches and we celebrate community traditions such as barbeques, parades, and the beginning of summer, I would like to remind you the use of fireworks are illegal.

Fireworks can turn an outstanding celebration into a painful memory when children or adults are injured.  Although legal consumer fireworks can be purchased relatively close to the Santa Clarita Valley, all fireworks are hazardous and can cause injury and present a significant threat of fire danger, especially with California facing one of the most severe droughts on record.

As Captain of Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, I would like to remind residents that all fireworks (including those fireworks classified as “Safe and Sane”) are illegal within the city of Santa Clarita and unincorporated communities.

The penalties for using illegal fireworks include fines of:

– $2,500 for a first offense

-$5,000 for a second offense

– $10,000 for a third offense

Section 9.60.030 SCMC states the following: “Except as otherwise provided, it is unlawful for any person to handle, give away, sell, offer for sale, solicit the sale of, manufacture, possess, purchase, use, ignite, explode, fire, or otherwise discharge any fireworks within the city of Santa Clarita or to aid or abet any of the above with respect to fireworks as defined.”

Los Angeles County Fire Code Section 3301.1.3 states that it is ILLEGAL to store, manufacture, sell, use, or handle ALL FORMS of fireworks in any unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. The penalties for possession or use of fireworks can range from a fine up to $1000, to confinement in a county jail for up to one year.

As a reminder, many fireworks violations are classified as felonies.

Please keep in mind this is an extremely busy holiday for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station and Los Angeles County Fire Department.  The Sheriff’s Department will have special teams deployed to combat the use of illegal fireworks.

I ask that you celebrate responsibly.  There are several fantastic opportunities to view fireworks in and around the Santa Clarita Valley.  The city of Santa Clarita’s Fourth of July Fireworks Show will begin at 9:15 p.m. at the Westfield Valencia Town Center.  Spectators can tune their radios to Santa Clarita’s Home Town Radio Station KHTS AM 1220 to enjoy a live broadcast of the show.

Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fourth of July celebration will occur throughout the weekend along with a fireworks display each evening.  There will also be fireworks over Stevenson Ranch at 9 pm on July 4th at the Dr. Richard Roux Memorial Park, 26233 Faulkner Drive, Stevenson Ranch.

All events are spectacular and absolutely free!  For details, please visit their respective websites.

From everyone at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, we wish you a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July!

How Veterans With PTSD Can Be Effected By Fireworks

The following is a story courtesy of CNN, an affiliate of KHTS AM-1220.

Independence Day is often celebrated with delicious food, family get-togethers and Fourth of July fireworks that light up the night.

What some may not realize is that fireworks can be a source of stress for some veterans — and there’s a movement to make sure revelers realize it.

Loud noises that sound like gunfire and other explosive blasts can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs estimates 11% to 20% of military members who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from the condition in a given year.

Photo courtesy of http://militarywithptsd.com/

Photo courtesy of http://militarywithptsd.com/

Shawn Gourley’s husband, Justin, served in the U.S. Navy from 2000 to 2004. When he returned home, she noticed a change in him. For five years, the couple struggled, searching for an answer. It wasn’t until 2009 that he was diagnosed with PTSD.

“What got me the most was no one told me what could happen, and I didn’t want to see another spouse go through that,” Gourley said. “If we can start talking about (PTSD) and help each other prepare, maybe they won’t make the same mistakes I did.”

She started a Facebook group, Military with PTSD, which eventually became a nonprofit.

Last year, on the Military with PTSD Facebook group, Gourley saw a member’s post showing a sign that asked neighbors to be courteous with fireworks due to his PTSD. The original poster did not want to attract media attention, but Gourley shared the idea and other members in the group loved it.

With the permission of the member, Gourley began to give the signs to other vets who wanted to post them on their lawns. Using donated money, she purchased 1,000 signs in May 2014 and assumed it would be more than enough.

She was wrong.

By the end of June this year, Military with PTSD sent out 2,500 signs, and had 3,000 people still on the waiting list to receive one. Gourley was shocked by the popularity and will continue to provide signs in order to prepare for next year.

Justin Gourley was diagnosed with PTSD after serving in the Navy.

The signs are provided free to veterans, although some choose to pay the cost of shipping for their own sign and that of another veteran, about $15, Gourley said. Signs are paid for with donated money, and veterans can get on the list to receive one through the group’s website.

Some have questioned the wording of the signs, which read “Combat Veteran Lives Here” and “Please be courteous with fireworks.” It doesn’t mean that veterans don’t want neighbors to use fireworks, Gourley said, but rather, they just want a warning that they’re coming.

“I think people wonder how you can be courteous with fireworks. It’s not like you can make them quieter,” Gourley chuckled. “No veteran that served the United States wants to take a freedom away from people, especially fireworks, which represent freedom. They don’t want them to stop. What they’re asking for is for people to give them a heads up.”

This is particularly important if neighbors plan to use fireworks on the dates around July 4. Gourley said that vets make necessary preparations for Independence Day, but they shouldn’t have to hide for weeks in order to avoid hearing random fireworks — a factor that disturbs them and affects their families.

Veterans’ stressful reactions might not be triggered by fireworks themselves, but by the surprise of a loud noise. Gourley said one veteran shared that a neighbor warned about upcoming fireworks and invited the vet to the show. The vet happily accepted and is excited to join in.

“What I took from that is that, wow, he has this connection that he hasn’t felt since he’s come home,” she said. “It makes him want to get involved and he doesn’t feel the need to isolate, which I think is amazing.”

She hopes Military with PTSD can help veterans suffering from PTSD and family members, as well as community members who might not know how to react to what veterans are going through.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

KHTS-Logo-Footer-3

 

Fourth Of July: Keep Safety In Mind For Santa Clarita Valley Pets, Veterans, Fire Prevention

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About KHTS Newsroom

KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220 focuses on Santa Clarita news, traffic, weather, sports, and also plays music. Bringing you SCV breaking news first and keeping you up to date with Santa Clarita events.