Illegal Fireworks Kill World Champion Horse Whose Winnings Were Donated to Wounded Warriors.

Illegal fireworks killed my multi-titled champion.  After begging law enforcement and the neighbors involved the incident, they continued the illegal activity and caused the death of a horse Roan, a champion Friesian Horse, whose winnings raised thousands of dollars for Wounder Warriors.  Roan was also a suvivor of a horrible accident, an a survivor of a rare equine disease and featured in a journal. A 23 minute 911 call records me begging the neighbors to quit to save my animal, and instead they fired fireworks at my car, screamed FREEDOM and more than 20 of them accosted me, recognizing me as filming a PSA asking people to be aware.  An outpouring of support for Roan brought National attention to the problem.  I want Homeowner's Associations to step up and fine residents who engage and put residents at risk of fire, their pets and property in danger, veterans and others with PTSD in terror for nothing more than an explosion in their driveway.  Help me prove how many suffer this problem.

From a personal point of view, fireworks are illegal in Knox County, and Knoxville, Tennessee and I am listening to them booming around me as I type a year later. Each year, our city puts on gorgeous fireworks displays, but instead of residents enjoying those festivities, they blow off illegal fireworks everywhere, but for me next to our 60 acre farm. One year, 8 1/2 acres burned to the ground causing countless firetrucks and responders to save our stables, 20 horses and 5 people were trapped for hours until the amazing firefighters could contain the fire. Embers from the fireworks display were all over the hay barn which contained 10s of thousands of dollars of hay. As a community who lost lives in the horrible Gatlinburg fires related to matches being flicked, this CAN HAPPEN to you.  We do our best to put our horses up but it is impossible for the noise and flames of light not to terrify them. One horse who was born here was in the process during the day being put in the barn when fireworks went off, causing the horse to drag my general manager.  The horse broke through the fence and we chased him for miles. Some of the horses at our farm are appraised at more than $250,000 a piece making more than a million dollars of horses who endure this holiday each year at my place alone. Not to mention the dogs and cats whose value are priceless.  A $25,000 mare and foal I found running for their lives over Memorial Day. I was hopeless to help them. Bottom line. Fireworks cause animals to become terrified and can easily cause caregivers to become severely injured trying to help them, the animals' lives are in danger and while the older retired animals may have limited value, other horse go into the millions, which for me personally I will take to civil court, since criminal court and law enforcement have failed to realize the seriousness of this problem. While some police officers have been compassionate, others have had the audacity to ask me if I have done everything in my power to protect my horses? I put them in the barn, I have fans and an air conditioning unit to try to keep them cool in the hottest time in the summer, I play music loudly to drown out the sound. Another officer said they could nothing without seeing them offenders do it. I produced a video. I am tired of being treated like the offender instead of the victim. I am not against fireworks, just go to a sanctioned city or county display instead of putting your homes and neighbors at risk. And as the daughter of trial lawyer with clear understanding of what I can do and will do, I am asking others to sign this position to have our representatives help us protect our homes, families, investments and animals. Any suggestions are welcome, and I know each county's laws are different but perhaps Knoxville and Knox County can be the leaders of this problem. My father and grandfather who were veterans would love to see me celebrate their sacrifice for their country, but I am here stuck to protect my loved ones and my property. Please include your name and location so that perhaps we can get a national presence. I know Simpsonville, KY sufferes the same horror which is shocking .... and I will help you as well as I see where I can get here.  I appreciate more that I can say my neighboring subdivision putting up a sign that fireworks are illegal and will not be tolerated siting the law that they are ILLEGAL and the Homeowner's Association will enforce that law to its ability.  It is a start and assists law enforcement, people, animals and property.  Please sign and share your story. Share my stories.

I am going to set up a gofundme page and ask people to donate $10 to support a campain to bring law enforcement and homeowner's associations together to give teeth to penalities.  I will ask people to for the person or pet impacted and the money will reflect how many people are concerned and will be put in my establshed 501C3 Equine Foundation for this sole purpose. I will include the address in an edit.