It's the type of Fourth of July story you'd rather not hear about, but one that could help your family.
A Westminster couple would like people to tone down the loud neighborhood fireworks shows after one of their dogs was spooked. She ran out of the backyard and was hit and killed by a car.
"This has been a really hard loss for our family, for our life," said Kristina Newman.
She was out later than expected on Saturday night. At 11:30 p.m., Newman came home and saw her backyard gate slightly open. Only three of her four dogs were in the backyard.
"La La didn't show up, and she's always really obnoxious and barks and runs up," said Newman.
"She had just recently figured out how to get out of the yard," said Jeff Olson.
Newman found La La, the Rat Terrier mix, just yards from her home. She had been hit and killed by a car.
"She had a big butt. She loved to eat everything in sight. She loved little kids," said Newman.
We asked why the dogs were left outside alone at night on the Fourth of July weekend.
"It was thoughtless," said Newman. "I thought as we were pulling away, that I should bring them in, and then I was like, we're probably not going to be gone that long, usually we're home before dark. If we were going to be gone that long, I would have left them in the kitchen. I regret it completely, I do. I feel so guilty."
Instead of going to a friend's barbeque Monday night, she said they'll stay in with their three dogs to make sure they're OK.
"We're going to stay home. We're going to watch a movie in the basement and turn the TV up really loud," said Newman.