Fourth of July pet tips
I just got this e-mail from Katie Casey from Formula, a pr agency in El Segundo. She offers some very smart and common sense tips for helping your pets get through the stressfull Fourth of July holiday from the World Wide Pet Industry Association.
I copy and paste her letter because she makes the point as clearly as I could...
While the nation celebrates this holiday with fireworks and other festivities, the Fourth of July can cause extreme stress on your pets.
The loud noises from fireworks, bright flashes of light and smells of sulfur can create an environment that is unfamiliar and hostile to pets. The World Wide Pet Industry Association (WWPIA), the oldest non-profit association dedicated to promoting responsible pet care, offers a list of expert tips on how to reduce your pet's anxiety this Fourth of July.
- Bring all pets inside - Pets are animals; they can become easily spooked by loud noises and bright lights. Even a well-behaved and extensively trained pet will try to escape if they feel they are in danger.
- Create a "Safe Room" - Choose a room in your home that is secluded from outside noises. Be sure that the room is well ventilated and cool, as anxious pets will pant heavily. Close the blinds and play music, which will help block outside noises. Be sure to keep food and water in the room.
- Offer comfort items - Surrounding your pet with their favorite toys, blankets or treats will help to provide some distraction.
- Keep your doors closed - Constant foot traffic in and out of the room where your pets are staying increases the chances that they will escape. Only have one person who is in charge or periodically checking on the pets.
- Properly ID your pets - As a responsible pet owner, your pets should have ID tags and be micro-chipped. This will help recover your pet should they escape.
- Accidents happen - Don't punish your pet if an accident occurs in the home during this time. The stress and fear produced from loud noises can often cause house trained pets to urinate in the home. Instead, plan ahead. Cover the floor with newspaper and remove any expensive rugs that could be damaged.
For more information and news regarding pet safety, please visit PetSource.org.
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About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.
Call police and report illegal fireworks. Not only do they terrorize our pets, they are a public safety threat. The fireworks industry profits, while taxpayers pay the cost of emergency room visits, fire department laters, extra police, etc. Fireworks should be BANNED in all communities, and police should ENFORCE the law. Law-abiding citizens can go to Dodger Staduim to see fireworks on the 4th of July.