Recently in fourth of july Category
They're back.
- Make sure your dog is microchipped and wearing an ID tag on his or her collar in case he escapes.
- Keep your dog indoors.
- If you're having people over for a party or if you're going out, put your dog in a cool, quiet room with the radio playing. Make sure to include your dog's bed and a few favorite toys.
- Do not take dogs to fireworks shows (OK, so that's pretty obvious).
- Don't tie your dog up outdoors.
Our friends at Valley of the Dogs report that the city of Los Angeles will hold a citywide adoptathon this weekend to help with what's being called a "perfect storm" of animals currently caught in the city's six animal shelters.
Several factors have contributed to the influx of animals, including the housing crisis and animals that came in after they were found loose after the Fourth of July. Summer also is a high-volume season for animal shelters. Many people move during these months and are unable to take their animals with them.
San Pedro's new shelter, which has been in the news lately, has seen a surge in animals being turned in by owners, Capt. Daniel Pantoja told me a couple weeks ago. And ironically, because the city now has an official "no kill" policy, animals are often being brought to L.A. shelters from other shelter areas outside the city.
The event this weekend will feature a more than 60 percent reduction in adoption fees -- $43 for dogs and $28 for cats. That includes vaccinations, microchips, spay-neuter and licensing.
Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday July 19 and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday July 20. In our area, the Harbor Area Animal Shelter is located at 957 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro.
If you see a dog or cat that's not available for adoption yet, you can get a "rain check" and adopt the animal should it become available later -- at the same discount price.
And speaking of raising awareness for the plight of shelter dogs, check out Traer Scott's book by the same name:
Congratulations to South Bay pet owners for surviving another Fourth of July.
Things were fairly quiet in my neighborhood, but I mean that in relative terms. While it did sound like a war zone, it was less of a war zone than last year.
The cat just ignored all the pops and whistles. And the dog spent the night in camp (that's what I tell him the kennel is). The kennel I take him to (Kennel Club and Resort in Torrance) is in a fairly industrial area, so it was pretty low key. It's air conditioned and the dogs can bark at each other all night with impunity.
Best of all, it's safe and secure. If Rocket were at home, I'd be worrying all night that he'd escape or start howling or something.
It was money well spent.
"While Tom Cruise may well object to the psychotropic juicing of family pets, I contend that, like Brooke Shields, there was no choice.
"I realized this a year ago on the Fourth of July when Jack chewed his way through a pair of French doors. We were gone for an hour but a nearby artillery-barrage-like fireworks display started early and Jack went like Mel Gibson in 'Patriot.'"
To read Daily Breeze columnist John Bogert's entire July 7, 2005, piece about surviving the Fourth with his dog, Jack, see the jump. (Jack, by the way, is a German shorthaired pointer and looks nothing like the dogs pictured here. I tried to get a picture of the real Jack, but the only one John had was on his cell phone, apparently non-transferrable to this blog.)
No, not that kind of dog. We're talking hot dogs. Hey, it's the Fourth of July.
And the best hot dogs, as voted by an august board of hot dog experts, can be found in Chicago and New York. Or at least, that's where the best ball park dogs are.
As part of National Hot Dog Month, the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council asked folks to vote for their favorite Major League Baseball stadium hot dog and Wrigley Field (yes, along with Yankee Stadium) grabbed first place as serving the best hot dog in all MLB ballparks.
Me? I'm partial to ones they sell at Costco for $1.50. And that includes a drink. Rascals, a restaurant next to the Breeze office in Torrance also has a killer dog. They grill them. Mmmm.
For weeks, we here at South Bay Pets have been urging people to be careful with their pets on the Fourth of July.
But some animals love fireworks. Take this dog for example. I guess it could have been a horrible tragedy, but nobody seems to have been hurt. And it makes me laugh everytime I watch it.
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.
It's almost the Fourth of July. Really. It's next week already.
So be honest, isn't your dog just panting to express his inner patriot? Why not indulge him a bit. Here's a "Boat Dog Bed With Anchor Toy". How cute is that?
And only $269.00 from www.muttropolis.com.
Sadly, the sailor hat's not included.
How is your pooch going to celebrate the 4th?
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.