Camarillo's Fourth of July fireworks show is usually held at Freedom Park out by the airport.The City allocated $31,000 to the Camarillo/Somis Pleasant Valley Lions Club for the fireworks show on the condition that the Lions Club stop holding the show at Freedom Park, because it is next to the county animal shelter. Animal rights activists and shelter officials complained to Camarillo City Council members saying the noise from the fireworks causes severe distress among the animals, most of them dogs and cats.

Last year there were about a hundred and fifty dogs and cats housed at the shelter on the Fourth of July. The loud noises of the one night of fireworks upset these animals.These animals, that if not adopted, will be euthanized.Last year there were over 6000 people who came to view the fireworks firsthand, and countless others viewed from the highways and byways near by.

The city's preferred new location is Camarillo High School. The Lions Club held its fireworks show there until it moved to Freedom Park in the 1980s, but Lions Club members say it might be too late to move to a new location by this July 4, and the high school has its own logistical problems.

First, the school is located adjacent to a residential area. Secondly, the high school houses animals, too - farm animals raised in the school's agriculture program.Thirdly, the school's property might have trouble accommodating all the cars and people. The event has grown considerably since the 1980's.According to one official last year about 1,800 cars parked at Freedom Park.The high school and surrounding neighborhood streets would experience complicated conditions, and the impact from campus overcrowding would require additional management by local police and the fireworks event staff.

Rather than creating a huge hoopla over this, maybe some local veterinarians would provide sedatives and ear plugs to the most freaked out of the animals at the shelter, (not all animals get worried by the noise) and animal rights activists can go to the shelter to help calm the animals down and administer treats and meds, so the rest of us can celebrate our nation's birth at the most appropriate location - large Freedom Park (so aptly named).

Please tell the veterinarians and the animal control employees you will support the bill to spay and neuter our pets.This should please them as it will reduce the number of animals in shelters.Ask them if they would accept a contribution for tranquilizers for upset pets, whether they be those at home or those in shelters, a buck for a 4 th of July bang.

As an alternative to drugs do what I do for my 4 pets (two dogs and two cats) - put them in the garage or a bathroom, making sure nothing can get dislodged and fall on them inadvertently.Make up a nice bed with familiar blankets and toys, and give them treats like the balls you can hide cookies or peanutbutter inside.The quadrupeds will cope, and the bipeds can enjoy our traditional celebration where we have in the past.