The world’s largest animal rights organization is imploring Georgia’s elected leaders to change state fireworks laws to honor the memory of a Milton donkey who died during a July 4 display.
The president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, wrote a letter Wednesday to House Speaker David Ralston asking for the state to pass a law requiring non-explosive and non-aerial fireworks.
It would be called “Sammy’s Law” after Sambuca, the miniature donkey folks called “Sammy” who died.
John Bogino of Seven Gables Farm said he believes the beloved 24-year-old animal died of fright or a heart attack.
“Ban all but ‘safe and sane’ fireworks (ones that don't explode like ‘bombs bursting in air’) to protect noise-sensitive domesticated animals, children, veterans, and elderly people and to prevent more tragedies like Sammy's death,” PETA said.
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PETA president Ingrid Newkirk suggested using drones, laser light shows and other “modern ways” to celebrate instead of “these World War II-type explosions.”
Ralston wasn’t immediately available for comment about the law’s chances Wednesday afternoon, as he and his staff were out of the state at a conference. The House’s media department did not immediately return a call for comment.
Animal deaths have been a problem for Milton, where the nearly 10,000 residents are more likely to have a horse than a MARTA Breeze card.
PETA’s letter also mentioned a 2013 incident when fireworks spooked one Milton horse so badly it ran into a wall, broke its neck and died.
Joe Lockwood, Milton's only mayor since the rural city formed in 2006, tasked the Milton Equestrian Committee in 2017 to work with state lawmakers to create laws that address how dangerous fireworks can be to animals and livestock.
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“We do need more local representation allowed by the state in order to experiment with alternatives that might be able to create a better outcome,” Milton Councilman Matt Kunz told Channel 2 Action News soon after Sammy died.
In March 2018, legislators passed House Bill 419, which allows municipalities to ban loud fireworks most days through local noise ordinances.
But Georgia residents are still allowed to set off fireworks regardless of local noise ordinances on Jan. 1, the Saturday and Sunday before Memorial Day, July 3, July 4, Labor Day and New Year’s Eve.
Legislators have been tweaking the fireworks law since 2015 when they passed House Bill 110 legalizing the sale and personal use of fireworks.
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