Keep Your Pets Safe This 4th of July

How does your dog react in a thunderstorm? In our house, Pernicus is fine. Doesn't bother him a bit. But Lola flips out, trying to hide under end tables, and behind furniture. So the 4th of July is an especially stressful time for her, with fireworks going off in the neighborhood. With her in mind, we thought we'd share some tips about keeping your pets safe.

Now, these tips apply to cats, as well but, since I have dogs, I'll write it in relation to your canine family members. Don Hanson at Green Acres Kennel Shop chatted with me this week, and offered some valuable tips to keep in mind over the next couple of weeks.

The 4th of July is an incredibly dangerous time for pets, especially dogs. They don't understand those loud noises which sound like thunder or a gunshot. It's scary! Their natural instinct is to run away from the offending noisemaker. So it's important to be aware of that fear and plan accordingly.

Hanson says, if you're going to be using fireworks or firecrackers, put the pets in an isolated room, where their exposure to the noise will be minimal. A finished basement would be perfect, but any room that's as far away from the noise as possible will work. Turn on some neutralizing sounds, like soft music, or the television, to help minimize the outdoor noise. However, don't blast them with loud music that's just going to add to their stress. Give them a stuff kong or their favorite treat or toy and then shut them in the room. Warn friends and family that, if they have to go in the room, they need to be aware of not letting the animals out.

And that's another thing. Keeping them in a room, like the one I just described, is also a good idea if you're having a gathering. Barbecues have a lot of people going in and out of the house, often with their hands full. It's a perfect opportunity for a frightened or excited pet to bolt. Or bite. If you're going to let them join the party, put them on a leash and keep track of them. But really, the best bet is to just allow them to chill in the house, away from a house full of people they may not know.

Hanson says it's important to prepare now for the possibility that your dog may get lost. The best place to start is to have them micro-chipped. It's a simple procedure, with the insertion of a chip that's about the size of a grain of rice. On that chip is all your personal information, including your name, address, and phone number. If your pet is lost and gets taken to a shelter, the folks there can scan that chip and find out where they belong. And, if your pet already has a chip, make sure all the corresponding information is current. Your vet can fill you in on how it works!

Take regular pictures of your pet, that show any distinctive markings, just in case you need to put up posters when they get lost. Now, in my house, I take way too many pictures of my dogs. It gets kind of ridiculous! But, on the other hand, I always have current pictures!

And if your pet takes off, start out by calling police, shelters, and your neighbors. And there are some great sites on Facebook, like Maine Lost Dog Recovery and Maine Lost Cat Recovery, where you can post pictures of your lost pet. Those get shared all over the place!

Finally, it's never a good idea to take your pet to the fireworks. You may appreciate their company, and love showing off your dog at a gathering of community members. But, the truth is, the dogs don't enjoy the pretty colors, and they often are really frightened by the noise and the collection of strangers. They'd be much happier at home, waiting for you to get back and show them some love!