Soothe your pet on the July 4th
Can your pet handle July 4th festivities? Many pets don’t like fireworks, thunderstorms and other loud noises. For those animals, the Fourth of July isn’t a day to celebrate, it’s a day to dread. But the Humane Society of the United States has some tips on how to help get your noise-fearing pet through the holiday weekend:
Leave your pet at home: Fireworks displays can be disorienting and frightening to pets, even those used to going places with their people.
Create a home sanctuary: Leave your pet in an area of your home where he or she is safe, comfortable and sheltered from any outside noise and lights. An inside room with no windows or doors to access the outside, where the pet normally spends time and is comfortable, may be best.
Pet-proof your home: When scared, some animals can become destructive, so be sure to remove anything that can become damaged or might harm your pet if chewed.
Never leave pets outside and unattended: Even in a fenced in yard, panic can lead a pet to escape and get lost, or become injured while trying to seek refuge.
Make sure that your pet is always wearing identification. In the unfortunate event that your pet gets lost, an updated identification tag greatly increases your chances of being reunited, even if your pet is already microchipped.
Offer a buddy: Consider having someone remain home with your pet while your family enjoys outdoor activities.
Click here for more 4th of July advice from our ajcpets.com experts.
Have any tips for keeping pets calm during the Fourth of July weekend? Share them today, then come back and let us know how your pet handled all the excitement.
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I always stay home with my pets to keep them calm and to protect them. I live across from Ga Tech where everything calls for fireworks. Kids also like to start fires, so I just stay home and keep an eye out.
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We actually found a stray black dachsund mix on the 4th of July about 5 years ago. He was huddled under one of our cars on the carport, frightened and shivering from the neighborhood fireworks. We couldn’t find his owner (no tags) after several weeks of looking. We became attached to him and couldn’t stand to see him go to a shelter. Ever since, ‘Uncle Sam’ has become a great pet for us and companion for our other dog. No regrets. But he still freaks every year on the 4th and during thunderstorms. Mostly he takes shelter under our bed.
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Of course we have to stay home soothing our pet on the 4th. One would think that police in this state would enforce the laws against “mortar” type fireworks, whose window rattling percussions drive animals literally insane, but no. They would much rather be kicking down doors at the wrong address and killing innocent old black women as they wage the unwinnable war on drugs. Or better yet, they would rather be busting up a nefarious video poker rings whose only real crime is in not giving the state a cut (I supposed that’s the key to the war on drugs too).
Instead, a-holes like my neighbors fire off flaming pieces of cardboard that end up in my pinestraw, etc. while dozens of innocent crullers and jelly filleds bite the dust.
The drought alone should be encouraging these cops to enforce the law. Its not like you can’t easily see these mortars as you drive down virtually every street.
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It seems more & more individuals are shooting off firecrackers every year. Last year it seemed we were surrounded on all sides of the house. I sat in the hall with my pet to try to calm her last year. I don’t look forward to the holiday because of the noise that isn’t just for a few minutes - they go on & on.
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David S - please leave your pathetic commentary on another blog. The war on drugs IS winnable, we just need to wean morons like you off of them. I think this state’s police forces do an OUTSTANDING job of enforcing the law. Don’t know what town you live in, but where I live, they respond quick to any call and take care of our citizens. Maybe you should move out of downtown, or better yet, move to another country where they don’t bother fighting drug problems (they just relegate themselves to a lower-class country). Now, as for pets, I suggest playing a radio or CD with some soothing classical music if you have to leave your pet at home on July 4. And be sure to leave some of their favorite toys around so maybe they can use those for comfort if they get scared. And if possible, don’t be gone too long to watch fireworks - come home to comfort and re-assure them if they are frightened.
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