06/20/2023
The 4th of July is almost upon us, and NOW is the time to plan for your pet's safety and comfort. Don't wait until the last minute to make sure they don't suffer because of this holiday.
The 4th of July is an important holiday for us and should be celebrated! However the staple of our celebrations, fireworks, are incredibly scary to most of our pets.
According to the county animal shelter, there is a 30-60% increase in the number of lost dogs following the 4th of July? July 5th is the busiest time of year for them, as stray intakes can reach the hundreds!
Here are some tips to keep your pets safe during this time of year:
1. Ensure the home is secured: have all doors and windows closed and locked with window coverings closed.
2. If your dog is crate trained, keep them in their crate with a blanket covering it. If they aren't, secure them in a room in the home (one without windows if possible).
3. Have a radio or TV turned on with calming music. Check out Youtube for "dog calming music" or DogTv!
4. Make sure your pet is wearing their collar with accurate ID tags. If your pet is microchipped make sure the information is all up to date. If your pet is not microchipped, consider getting it done. The first things a shelter will do when they get an intake is check for a chip. Citizens can also bring an animal to any vet or most pet businesses and get an animal scanned.
5. Stay home if you can! You will bring the most comfort to your pet during a scary time.
6. Expose them to fireworks at a young age. You can safely desensitize your pets to the sound of fireworks with music! It's best to start when they are babies but also possible for older dogs. You an buy CDs that pair calming music with what could be "scary sounds" (fireworks, sirens, etc) and play them for your pet.
Remember, now is the time to prepare for your pet's 4th of July, not on July 3rd.
