Keeping dogs safe and sound on July Fourth


Posted on Jul 2, 2009
By Julia Szabo

Along with barbecues and patriotic celebrations, the Fourth of July also brings an alarmingly high incidence of dogs going missing. That's because many dogs get spooked by Independence Day fireworks and run away to escape the source of their stress. So don't let your best friend become a sad holiday statistic. Please make sure your dog is wearing an ID tag or personalized collar, and/or carrying a more permanent form of identification, such as a microchip, and keep the following safety tips top of mind before and during the festivities.

Don't bring dogs out to watch fireworks displays. Easily frightened by the explosive sounds and flashing lights of rockets' red glare, Spot could slip his collar and run away. And don't leave dogs outdoors unattended; even in a fenced-in yard, canine MacGyvers could panic and find a creative way to escape and become lost (such as burrowing under the fence).

Keep dogs indoors, with the air conditioning on; if your dog has long hair and gets hot under the collar easily, he'll pant even more from the stress of hearing that terrifying commotion going on outside, so consider a cooling, orthopedic dog bed to keep him comfortable.

A dog's sense of hearing is notoriously exquisite, so counteract the aural assault of fireworks with calming music. Forgo the heavy metal and provide a soothing soundtrack of classical compositions on the CD player or radio. Finally, provide Spot with easy access to the bathroom, so he can indulge his "paw-celain" nesting instinct; the cool, tiled surfaces in there help a stressed dog chill out.

 

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