Fort Lauderdale commissioners on Tuesday voted to reject a proposal to replace fireworks during the Fourth of July with a drone show.
According to commissioners, since this year’s celebration coincides with the 250th anniversary of the U.S., they said there isn’t enough time to properly plan an alternate drone show.
They also said that the lack of audio and visibility for crowds was another reason they voted for the proposal.
Animal rights activist group PETA supported the proposal and sent a letter to Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, which reads in part:
“We commend the city for exploring the use of state-of-the-art drones and respectfully urge you to fully eliminate fireworks. Doing so would make future celebrations more inclusive and spare noise-sensitive companion animals, wildlife, and hearing-sensitive humans from distressing explosions.”
“Freworks are deeply frightening for wildlife and domestic animals. The loud booms and flashes are perceived as threats and can have devastating consequences. Terrified dogs and cats often attempt to escape the noise by breaking through doors, fences, or windows. Songbirds have been known to abandon their nests or collide with buildings and each other, while waterfowl may panic and fly to dangerously high altitudes for long periods of time, leaving them exhausted and vulnerable. Veterans and others who have post-traumatic stress disorder can also be severely affected by the noise of the explosives.”
Commissioners said they’re open to looking at options that combine fireworks and drone shows for future celebrations.