Keep pets safe during the Fourth of July holiday

The Fourth of July is known to be the busiest day of the year at animal shelters across the country – and it’s not because of adoptions. In fact, July 4^th is the number one day for stray dogs. While fireworks may be great fun for most of us, our canine companions think differently and are likely to run away in fear. And BBQs in the back yard pose their own set of threats. Whether you’re heading out to the local fireworks display or hosting your own party, here are some simple tips to remember this Fourth of July to keep your pet safe and happy.

Fido and Fireworks Don’t Mix

This one is pretty easy. If you’re going out to see some fireworks, your dog does not need to go with you. A fireworks display is a lot to take in for your pet. Besides the sounds of the fireworks, there are a lot of flashing lights and smells and the whole experience can be overwhelming for them. No matter how relaxed your dog normally is, something as out-of-the-norm as a fireworks display can easily startle them. Should your dog become frightened and run away, they are going to try to run as far away from the fireworks as possible – and they will likely run a lot faster than you can! Don’t take the risk of losing your pet – leave them at home.

Make Home a Safe Environment

Unfortunately, simply leaving your pet home is not always a guarantee that they won’t be spooked by fireworks. If you live in an area where there will be fireworks going off nearby, you need to make your house as safe as possible for your pet. Frightened pets have been known to break free from restraints, jump fences, and break through screen doors and windows in attempts to get away from the sound of fireworks. Find a safe place in your home for your pet to wait out the fireworks with blankets that smell like them, plenty of water, a fan or air conditioner, and some calming background noise, like the television.

Get Your Pet Some I.D.

No one plans for their pet to go missing, which is probably why so many stray animals turn up at the shelter every year without any form of identification. The easiest way to ensure your pet is always wearing an I.D. is to have them microchipped. If your pet is not microchipped, make sure they’re wearing a collar and up-to-date I.D. tag. Should your pet get away from you at an event or break out of your house, you want to make sure it’s easy for whoever finds your pet to track you down.

Keep Pets Away from Alcohol

If you’re hosting a backyard BBQ this Fourth of July, make sure your pets do not accidently ingest alcohol. All forms of alcohol are toxic to your pet, even beer. Watch for signs of alcohol poisoning in your pet, including vomiting, elevated heart rate, weakness, and collapse. Remember that alcohol might also be in food that you are serving. Remind guests not to give your pets any special treats off their plates, or keep your pets away from the party altogether.

Don’t Decorate the Dog

Don’t adorn your dog with glow jewelry or glow sticks or allow them to play with them. The contents will not be fatal if swallowed, but can still cause your dog some discomfort. The plastic pieces of the jewelry and glow sticks, however, can cause an intestinal blockage.

Water, Water Everywhere

July is HOT, and your dog is going to want fresh, cool water to drink. If you’re outdoors at a BBQ, make sure there are plenty of water bowls available and that someone is responsible for keep the bowls full. As we at CVHS know from our summertime dog walk event, bowls of water outside on a summer day can heat up quickly, so make sure you are providing your pet with fresh water often.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with three parrots, two cats, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org