An Innisfil family is grieving after losing their pet dog last weekend to a stroke which they say was caused by the sound of fireworks.
Usually every long weekend the Hayes-Adams family leaves town to get away from the busyness of town and return just before the start of the workweek.
This Victoria Day long weekend was no exception. The family left town and returned to their home in Alcona on Monday evening.
The family lives behind a large field where most neighbours typically set off fireworks on holidays. But on Monday night at around 11 p.m.Stefani Hayes-Adams says neighbours a few doors down started shooting them off from their backyards, approximately 15 feet away from her home.
She said the cracking sounds were loud enough to wake up her two young children, ages 6 and 8, and frighten their almost 12-year-old Shih Tzu, Cosmo.
"When I woke up in the morning there was debris all over my backyard and my dog was shaking," said Hayes-Adams.
She called Cosmo's veterinarian immediately to figure out what to do. The vet explained that Cosmo was just frightened and advised Hayes-Adams to help keep the dog calm.
Hayes-Adams notes the Shih Tzu breed is naturally very sensitive to stress, and her coping mechanisms of cuddles and kisses were what usually helped settle her down.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough this time.
"The heartbeat wasn't decreasing, it was rapid," she said. "I did everything the vet said, got her in a blanket, and tried to rock her but it just wouldn't decrease."
Hayes-Adams called the vet back immediately where they told her to go directly to the emergency vet clinic in Barrie.
But by the time she got there, it was too late.
Cosmo had a stroke right on the examination table.
"We lost her that fast," said Adams-Hayes.
The worst part of the situation, says Hayes-Adams, was that one of her daughters was hanging onto Cosmo when she passed away.
"It wasn't a pleasant memory for her," she said.
With her two young girls already struggling, being out of school and away from their friends, the loss of their pet has made their lockdown situation even more unbearable.
"She was kind of comfort during COVID," she said. "They always had the dog to play with between breaks at school and on weekends, and now they don't even have that....my kids are heartbroken."
Cosmo had no history of illness or health complications.
"When you have a dog that's ill you can better prepare for it (death), but when it's sudden and something is taken away from you...it's just not fair," said Hayes-Adams.
The vet reassured her there was nothing else the family could have done in the situation.
Hayes-Adams says she isn't looking for sympathy, and that she enjoys fireworks too but hopes her story will help raise awareness about the effects they can have on pets and those with post-traumatic stress disorder and help people to make better choices when deciding where to set them off during the holidays.
"I get celebrations but when it comes to the safety of things and causation of pain, I think we need to make better choices," she said. "I've lost a family member now and it wasn't necessary."
The family had a small memorial for Cosmo this past weekend and spread her ashes by the lake water where she was always happiest.
Hayes-Adams says she would love to welcome a new dog to the family to help fill the void that has been left in their hearts, but says finding a pet during a pandemic is difficult.
"I don't want to replace her, but I need to bring happiness back into my life," she said.
As per The Town of Innisfil website, anyone wishing to set off consumer fireworks for Victoria Day or Canada Day may do so on the holiday itself, or the two days prior to and the two days after the holiday without a permit. Fireworks can only be set off from dusk until 11 p.m. Fireworks cannot be used within eight metres of any building, tent, trailer, camp, shelter, fence, or vehicle.
For more information on fireworks safety, visit the town website here.
