Our Least Favorite Holiday

Mom and I usually choose a blog topic together. Since the 4^th of July is only a few days away, I thought I would be good to remind people that loud noises, like firework, are very, very scary for pets. I realize that the 4^th of July is a very important holiday for all Americans, human and dog, the loud noise made by fireworks is more than most of us dogs can handle.

I wanted to talk about what humans can do to make their pets feel more safe and unafraid while the humans can enjoy the sound and colors of a fireworks display. 

Lots of our friends already know how to keep their pets safe and unafraid but there were people who never lived with pets before and they may not know that loud noises are dangerous for dogs and cats, and horses and ferrets and…. Well all animals.

First of all, most pets don’t pay attention to the calendar so, unlike humans, they don’t know it is the 4^th of July.  They aren't expecting the day to be any different from the 3^rd of July so it's a big scary surprise when all the big noise starts. And please, as much as you might like to take us along to see the community fireworks, we would prefer to stay at home.

You know our sense of smell is much greater than that of humans, well, our hearing averages about four times greater than yours too. That means fireworks are very, very loud.

So, while you may enjoy the sight and sound of fireworks on the 4^th of July, your pets may not. While you are sitting on the front porch, enjoying the display, your pet may experience an increase in heart rate, a rush of adrenaline and increase in stress hormones that could cause him or her to bolt. The stress can be so intense that dogs jump fences and break chains trying to get away from the noise.

The American Humane Society reports that July 5th is the busiest day of the year at animal shelters, as pets that fled ran away because they were scared the night before are found miles from their homes  They were disoriented and exhausted.

Here are a number of thing you can do to make sure your pets are comfortable and safe this July 4^th.

1. Leave them at home and inside. If it is warm, leave the air conditioning on.

2. Provide a "safe" place for them. Our crates are our safe place but during thunderstorms and on the 4th of July, DixieLee likes to hide in Mom’s closet.

3. If possible keep the windows and curtains closed.

4. Make sure your pets are wearing their ID tags and that their collars fit properly just in case they bolt.

5. Give them something to keep them occupied. I’d vote for a Frosty Paws frozen dog treat but a favorite toy can comforting too.

It’s only a few hours out of a whole year but those few hours can be very traumatic for a pet. Make sure your best friend doesn’t end up as a statistic on the American Humane Society report for next year.

Wishing America a Happy Birthday and all of our friends a happy and safe July 4^th!

Zeva

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