Independence Day Safety for Pets
Many of us are planning a festive Independence Day celebration on July 4. We are looking forward to that mouth-watering barbeque of hot dogs and hamburgers, potato salad with onions or maybe a delicious vegetarian delight which contains garlic. While garlic and onions are safe for humans, they can be dangerous for cats, so care is needed if our kitties are hanging out with us while we "party".
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Of course it is essential that we plan ahead to ensure our pets' safety and security. Independence Day is one of the most perilous holidays of all that we celebrate. As the sun goes down, and evening is upon us, considering the easy access to fireworks that many people have, there will certainly be an abundance of loud, frightening pyro-novelties lighting up the sky.
While we may consider them exciting and beautiful, remember that dogs and cats have far more acute hearing than we do. Dogs can hear things 250 yards which humans can only hear from a distance of 25 feet. Cats have exquisite and sensitive hearing and can become easily frightened and confused.
So without further amew, here are some pet safety tips to make July 4 a happier and healthier day for your furry friends:
1. Keep your pets indoors. It is recommended to leave them home. We keep our blinds closed and soft music playing if we go out to celebrate and confine them to our safe bedroom.
2. Even if you have a fenced in area for your pets, they can easily escape over a wall if sufficiently frightened.
3. If you must walk your dog during a fireworks display keep your canine leashed. Make sure that proper ID tags are on the collar just in case he or she gets away from you.
4. If you feel that your pet needs to be sedated, please consult with your vet before administering any medications, especially those made for human use.
Have a safe and happy July 4!
Watch this very informative video uploaded to YouTube by Better, with many more tips and suggestions about how to keep your pet safe.
Please leave us some comments with further suggestions for pet safety on July 4.
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Comments (4)
fran July 3, 2009 1:00 PM
This is so true and such excellent advice! More than 2 decades ago Stormy, our sweet, devoted Shepherd was in our backyard in early July when he was spooked by firecrackers. He cleared a 4 foot high picket fence--hip displasia and all--and bolted out of our neighborhood, crossed a very busy street and kept running until he got to the other side of our small city. We were so fortunate that a group of little girls saw this exhausted and frightened dog, tied a ribbon around his neck and led him home with them. A few calls to the police and animal control later, we reconnected with our traumatized boy and brought him safely home. After that, and for the rest of his life, any loud noise really upset him and we used many of the techniques suggested to help him cope. That was the only time in his ten years that this beautiful, attached-to-us dog ever ran off and we would have sworn that this could never happen--- until it did!
Amy July 3, 2009 2:50 PM
I have 1 dog out of 3 that is nervous with fireworks each year. We make sure she goes out side before all the niose begins. We also let her go out as many times during the day as she wants until she decides she has had enough. It does take her a couple days to fully relax and be back to her old self.
jmuhj July 3, 2009 2:59 PM
Great advice, Jo -- thanks for sharing! For calming a clowder or even just one indoor cat(s), Feliway spray or Comfort Zone plug-ins are a natural. I have sprayed it in carriers when transporting cats internationally, and they didn't let out a peep during the entire journey to the airport; I'm told they arrived cool, calm and collected even after never flying before! THAT's effective, yes?
Vicki July 3, 2009 4:00 PM
Since we have seven dogs and three horses, we have never allowed fireworks on our property. Some of the neighbors around us have fireworks, and it always makes me very nervous. I'm hoping for a very quiet fourth this year.
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