By Judi Curry / OB Rag
This Petition was closed, but not before over 11,000 people signed it.
For years the residents of the Point Loma and Ocean Beach areas have been complaining of the noise and air pollution spewed forth nightly by SeaWorld. Some people that own dogs have complained that the dogs are scared nightly by the horrendous percussion sounds while trying to hide from the shaking windows and doors. Some people that have children and babies complain that it wakes them up, usually crying, and has affected their everyday life.
Sunday night, August 15th, was one of the worst incidents of noise that I have heard in a long time. The noise reverberated for over two minutes; and as soon as one could relax another wave hit. And it wasn’t just here on the Point. Looking over the comments made on Facebook, Laura stated that she heard it in La Mesa. She said it wasn’t real loud; more like thunder but it was from Sea World.
For the life of me I cannot understand why SeaWorld has to have fireworks. People do not spend all that money to go see a fireworks show at 9:50 pm. People spend the admission price to see the SeaWorld Show. It wouldn’t make any difference if there were fireworks or not. Not only does it cause pollution in the bay and in the air, it disturbs their own animals, our animals, and for some time ago it was shown to disturb the nesting birds.
[Editor: In fact, just a little over a year ago, in July 2015, the OB Rag reposted a Petition to Stop the Nightly Fireworks at SeaWorld set up on change.org. It has since been closed, but not before 11,237 people signed it.]
Couple the noise from SeaWorld, the British Airways and Fed Ex planes taking off just about the same time, zip codes 92106/92107 is not a very healthy place to be at night.
And before people jump down my throat – I KNOW that some of you think it is nice. Some of you mentioned you know it is time to go to sleep when the fireworks are over. Some of you feel blessed to be able to see the “free” show every night. This is MY opinion.
I think that SeaWorld would see no loss of revenue if they stopped the fireworks. In fact, they might even gain some money because they wouldn’t have to pay for the fireworks. And we might all be able to breathe a cleaner air and swim in a cleaner bay.
Judi Curry
Latest posts by Judi Curry (see all)
- What the Heck? The Story of My Randomly Sounding Fire Alarms - June 1, 2017
- My April Fool’s Day Story for the Year – Looking for a Man - April 1, 2017
- Restaurant Review: Pepe’s in Ocean Beach - March 15, 2017
If humans are so disturbed by this nightly barrage, can you imagine the captive marine mammals there that are subjected to these unimaginable stresses, night after night?
SeaWorld should be fined for cruelty and forced to shut down the nightly fireworks.
Actually animals have much higher-developed circadian rhythms than people do (ex: your dog knows when it’s dinner time) so the mammals at Sea World probably are prepared for the noise. Also, sound is dampened when traveling through water.
(Please don’t take this as a defense of the fireworks; it’s only an injection of fact :-)
Being prepared for the noise doesn’t mean they can handle it. My dog anticipates when they will start and it doesn’t help at all. As for sound under water, sound travels very well under water and is documented as severely disturbing marine animals. Additionally, the hearing of marine animals is different from land animals.
Stopping the fireworks is an insult to patriots, who love “the rockets’ red glare” and the “bombs bursting in air.” Might as well try to keep our Olympic staff from handing our medal winners the flag/cape, or our car dealers for competing for the largest banner on the tallest pole.
So tell me, Bob, what benefit does the fireworks have for Sea World. It scares the animals; pollutes the bay and the air. It doesn’t help them with their cause of rehabilitating animals; it doesn’t help bring in paying patrons – they would be there even if there were no fireworks. It would be a healthier place for the “residents” of Sea World and they could still do what they do to placate the patriots.
I’m pretty sure Bob was being sarcastic.
Yea, I agree with Doug, Bob was being facetious.
SeaWorld, be quiet!!!
Judi,
There is absolutely a business reason for running the fireworks, otherwise a for profit company would not spend the money. Fireworks are an additional show that appeal to thousands of visitors at a time, keeping people in the park longer, which gives them more time to open their wallets on food, drinks, and merchandise. Dollar for dollar nightly shows are one of the best ROI’s theme parks see. I would also imagine any impact to their animals is measured and weighed by their staff. If the fireworks are harming their asset they would not continue to do it.
Really Mr. Bohannon? Do you know how many “assets” die at the Del Mar Race Track every year and at tracks across the country? Cock fights? Dog fights? Businesses care about money. Just the fact that you labeled them assets makes me wonder if you work for Sea World. If nothing else, that’s a pretty cold way to refer to intelligent marine life.
Seaworld you must empty the tanks and leave the animals alone! Animals are not yours, not ours, they belong to nature. Captivity is cruel, they beg for food everyday, they don’t have a family there, they suffer and you Seaworld now that, but you don’t care about, you care about the money you make with them……Seaworld empty the tanks, close your doors forever!
Ok so toss tbese these animals who were born and bred into captivity into the wild?
I meant “in captivity”.
No, that is not the best idea but starting to put an end to all of this is a good idea.
Agree.
Similar analysis to the airport noise argument:
Sea World has been in existence longer than most of the residents have lived nearby.
Or…..do you move to Mission Beach and then complain when ocean waters come to visit your street?
Sea World opened in 1964. I was here before then. There was no problem until they started with the fire works. It’s not necessary to their show and/or program.
I’ve lived nearby for 30 years and I will adamantly state that the noise has gotten much worse in the past four or five years. And, after 30 years of this noise, I think I have aright to complain and seek a change, I didn’t just move here.
I live in Clairemont Mesa, off the canyons, and the sounds from the fireworks come up the canyons and bounce my windows. My poor dog, a mastiff blend, runs around the house looking a reprieve from the auditory onslaught. I can appreciate what Sea World is providing their attendees. I just wish there was another way to provide their entertainment without victimizing the locals and their animals.
I live right off West Point Loma Blvd, none of my animals have a problem with the fireworks. None of the 7 dogs on my block have any problems with the fireworks. Perhaps, we are just lucky to have such well adjusted animals? Or maybe … our animals are a reflection of who we are?…and we happen to be responsible & socially well adjusted people – who don’t mind the fireworks. I’m so tired of hearing people wine, bitch and moan over stupid shit…like the fireworks.
If the fireworks are the worst thing, biggest problem in your life – then you my friend are doing pretty good. OB & Pt Loma is such a wonderful place to live, try to enjoy it!
Every night? You think the smoke and noise is a good thing, every night? You must be one of those people who love “the rockets red glare… the bombs bursting in air.” Would you like to get closer? Would you like to set some off next to your neighbor’s houses? For one of a number of “responsible and socially well-adjusted people,” as you describe yourself, you might try being less provocative, Stopwining. It sounds too much like you’re whining.
Bob,
.
I hardly think my post was very provocative and I certainly was not whining.
How do you know none of the other animals on the street have a problem with the noise? I take my dog into a bedroom, turn up the TV, turn on an air conditioner, and sit with my hands over his ears until it is over. No one would know he has a problem because I sooth him. Did you poll all of the dog owners on your street? And you implication that some of us are not responsible and socially well adjusted and that may be the problem is, frankly, idiotic.
Goeff,
As a matter of fact …yes I have personally witnessed my neighbors dogs during the fireworks – they are all fine.
What I was trying to say – pets are very in tune with their owners emotions/actions. I’m sure you wont like this: but YOU are most likely to blame for your dogs fear. Yep… If you cuddle (try soothing) your dog during the fireworks…you are basically validating / nursing that fear in your dog. The only difference between my dog and yours is …the owner actions.
For the record – I’m 3rd generation OB/San Diego native. I fully support activism & provocative discussions…I just don’t think the 6 minutes of fireworks is our biggest problem. So many other things we should / could be discussing.
Note: I’m speaking only about “pet reactions” nothing else.
Wow. Where did you get your expertise on animal behavior? I’m 65 and I’ve had dogs all my life, I know dogs very well. Your suggestion that my dog’s problem is due to me is beyond ridiculous. This is the third of my dogs, of three generations of dogs, who is petrified of the fireworks. The first two were literally inconsolable, they had panic attacks over the noise. My current dog can at least be consoled. There are thousands of animals out there just like mine so your answer is that all of the OTHER pet owners are to blame for the dog’s reactions instead of blaming the one thing they all really have in common, the fireworks? That makes no sense at all, I think you need to do a little reading.
And, nobody said the fireworks were our biggest problem, I have no idea where that came from. But, they are a problem, one I have lived with for 30 years and I am beginning to to think this is a problem I need to finally devote more time to because watching my dog panic is breaking my heart and there is no reason for it. Sea World doesn’t need fireworks to attract visitors, it’s a marine park for pete’s sake. You want to discuss other things, then get off this post and go discuss the things you find are more important instead of belittling the opinions on this one and offering information that has no application to the issue.
If you are so tired of the complaining you have the simple option of both skipping over articles like this AND people’s comments.
I6have been there during the show, and have many pictures of the whales watching the fireworks. It does not bother them in the slightest.
So you can attest that none of the animals at Sea World are affected? Just because you’ve been there during some shows? I guess we can all be reassured. How about providing you credentials demonstrating expertise in marine animals?
If all these people are correct and I am the one that is making my dog a nervous wreck when there are fireworks someone better inform the SPCA and the Humane Society. Instead of telling all of us dog owners to be careful with our animals during “fireworks season” and reminding us of how the noises and repercussions affect them, they should recommend that we dog owners get therapy so our dogs won’t get upset when the fireworks begin. Isn’t it amazing that it took residents of San Diego to figure out what the real problem is!
Of course, your right! Its all Sea Worlds fault that YOUR dog suffers anxiety and fear of noises.
Go ahead and try to discredit everything I said or suggested.
Perhaps when you calm down a little – you will look into common causes of anxiety in pets & how to deal with them.
That’s all I have to say…
enjoy this beautiful day…or at least try to. I certainly will be
The ONLY noises my dog suffers from are Sea World’s fireworks, so, yes, in this instance, it is Sea World’s fault.
I can’t discredit what you have said or suggested because you’ve offered nothing to substantiate your opinion. I am differing strongly with your personal opinion, that is all.
No, I don’t need to look into common causes of anxiety in pets and how to deal with them, YOU need to support YOUR position that dog’s fear of fireworks is not the fireworks but is the fault of the owner. But, as often happens when challenging the positions of a poster, you have decided to sign off instead of backing up what you have said under the pretense that the person questioning your opinion is now unreasonable or upset and not worth continuing the discussion with. Well, go ahead then, that demonstrates that this was just one person’s uninformed opinion.
Maybe (he or she) walked their dog to watch the fireworks. Just sayin
I was walking my dog in the park near my house, Collier Park, late one night and forgot about the fireworks. When they started, he panicked and headed for home. He pulled so hard on the leash all the way that he was gasping for breathe and it was all I could to to hold him. When we got home, I took him into a bedroom and saw that the pupils in his eyes were as big as saucers, he was having a full on panic attack. I’ve witnessed a panic attack in a human being before and it looked the same, pupils completely dilated, fast breathing, looking for somewhere to go to get away but not knowing where to go. If you are saying that walking a dog who fears these loud noises to watch fireworks, you really have no idea of what I have been talking about.