Loy Krathong Night With a Nervous Shih Tzu Named Kiwi

Loy Krathong in Bangkok is lovely, but for Kiwi it was loud. Our Shih Tzu is only one and a half, and the firecrackers near the river had her shaking in my arms before we even got to the boat. We decided to keep the trip short. We carried her in a soft carrier, stayed away from the crowds on the pier, and bought the krathong from a stall near our house instead. She still whimpered at the first big bang, so we walked back to the car early and gave her a chicken treat. Next year I will leave her at home with a fan on and the TV playing something gentle. Krathong is about letting go of worries, and I guess I learned that one too.