Bustling crowds and loud explosions are not much fun for most dogs. In fact, the day after Independence Day is, hands down, one of the busiest for municipal shelters nation wide.
It’s a difficult thought to grapple with. Year after year, thousands of dogs flee their homes due to fear of explosions – from fireworks at home and in the neighborhood – or from a careless party guest. Please take a few minutes to read how you can help save your pet, and others, from unnecessary stress, loss and potential harm.
First things first
- NEVER TAKE YOUR PET TO A FIREWORKS DISPLAY OR PARTY! We cannot stress this enough. Dogs have no concept, interest or expectation for fireworks. By taking them to an open area to be bombarded with unexpected, loud, scary sights and sounds, you’re asking for trouble.
- Keep your dog indoors as much as possible. This may mean that they need to be secluded to a quiet room away from guests or even kept in a crate for the evening.
- Obviously, at some point they will need a bathroom break. It’s best to keep them leashed but if that is not possible, make sure they are supervised…we swear we’re not being paranoid!
- Accidents happen, even if you’re keeping your pet indoors. Make sure that your dog is wearing a collar with tags that has your contact information on it. If you cannot get access to tags, simply write your phone number in permanent marker directly on the collar.
- If your pet has a microchip, make sure that it is both registered and up-to-date with current contact information. If your pet does not have a microchip, consider getting them one and then register it. Microchips are simply no good without information registered to them.
- Help keep your pet calm during this time by providing them with fun toys or something yummy to chew on. It can also be helpful to play loud, peaceful music to drown out the sound of fireworks and people. ThunderShirts are another great option for reducing stress.
- NEVER EVER USE FIREWORKS NEAR YOUR PETS.
Notable Mentions
- Although it can be difficult to see your dog in distress, if they have taken comfort under a bed or in a corner, leave them be. Resist the urge to pull them out and “show them that it’s ok”.
- We’ve all been told to not feed the dog table scraps. Well it’s especially important during holidays. If you have guests, or even just your family, make sure they are aware that the dog is off limits for people food. Some popular foods, like onions, grapes and raisins, are toxic to your pet. It’s just not worth it.
- Never leave alcoholic drinks where your pet can reach them. Consuming alcohol could have very dire health consequences for your dog.
- Do not apply sunscreen or bug spray to your dog unless it is specifically designed for pets.
- Keep Citronella products out of reach of your dog’s mouth and nose. Over ingestion, via oral or nasal, could cause serious health problems for your pup.
Got friends with pets? Please share this information with them and help keep their furry friends safe.
Download and Share!
