FIREWORKS AND PET SAFETY

FIREWORKS AND 4TH OF JULY GO HAND IN HAND.   IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD EVEN THOUGH THE “IN THE AIR” LOUD BOOMERS ARE ILLEGAL, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. THE  3 DOGS I HAVE  NOW (JUST LOST MY OLDEST SO HAD 4).  3 OF THE 4 ARE/WERE SCARED TO DEATH OF THE LOUD NOISES.  MY OLDEST ONE, CHICO, THAT I JUST LOST WAS THE WORST AND HOPE MY CHIHUAHUA IS BAD TOO.  LUCY MY LAB MIX IS SCARED BUT NOT SHAKING OR HIDING.   COOKIE COULD CARE LESS.  THE TWO CHIHUAHUAS FREAK OUT AND TRY TO FIND A PLACE TO HIDE.  YESTERDAY ONE WENT OFF REALLY CLOSE AND SHE HID UNDER A PLANT IN THE CORNER AND WAS SHAKING TERRIBLY.  IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO CALM HER DOWN.    

FIREWORKS ARE NOT JUST 4TH OF JULY.  THEY ALSO  CAN BE HEARD  ON NEW YEARS EVE AND SOMETIMES RANDOM TIMES THROUGH THE YEAR.  WE TRAVEL TO A FEW NASCAR RACES AND RIGHT AFTER THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND AT THE END THERE ARE ALWAYS FIREWORKS.  THE MOTORHOME WE STAY IN AT THE TRACK SO THE FIREWORKS ARE REALLY LOUD.  HOPE IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 3 THAT TRAVEL THAT IS SCARED SO I ALWAYS GO IN LATE TO THE RACE AND LEAVE EARLY.  SHE SHAKES AND TRIES TO HIDE SOMEWHERE.  IT MAKES HER FEEL A LITTLE BETTER IF I AM THERE. 

WE ARE JUST NOW HEADING INTO THE HEART OF THE LOUD NOISES SO IT IS TIME TO PLAN AHEAD AND PROTECT OUR DOGS.  I HAVE READ THAT THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND IS THE WORST FOR THE SHELTERS.  DOGS GET SO SCARED IF THEY ARE OUTSIDE THEY JUMP FENCES OR RUN OFF. 

TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND:

-KEEP YOUR PETS INSIDE DURING THE PEAK FIREWORKS TIME.  I LET MINE OUT BUT WATCH THEM AND BRING THEM RIGHT BACK IN.  LUCY IS A FENCE JUMPER SO IF SHE GETS SCARED YOU JUST NEVER KNOW. 

-INSIDE CAN STILL BE LOUD.  WE KEEP THE TV ON AT A LOUD LEVEL (NOT ENOUGH TO HURT THEIR EARS).  THE TV OR RADIO CAN MUTE THE SOUND A BIT AND MAKE IT NOT QUITE SO SCARY. 

-KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.  THE FLASHES WON’T BE QUITE AS DRAMATIC. 

-STAY HOME WITH THEM WHEN YOU CAN.  THEY FEEL BETTER WHEN THEY ARE NOT ALONE. 

-ENSURE THEY ARE WEARING A TAG WITH ALL YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION ON IT AND IF YOU HAVE NOT MICRO-CHIPPED THEM, THINK ABOUT DOING IT.  

-MAKE THEM A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO BE.  CHICO USED TO LIKE TO HAVE A “TENT” TO HIDE IN.  HOPE LIKES TO HIDE UNDER BLANKETS AND LUCY WANTS TO SIT ON TOP OF YOU.  A GOOD ALTERNATIVE IS A PEEKABOO BED BY LOUISDOG .    https://pawswithfashion.com/shop/peekaboo-white-cabana/

-GIVE THEM LOTS OF LOVE AND KISSES TO MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE AND SECURE. 

IT CAN BE SUCH A FUN TIME OF YEAR FOR US BUT IT IS NOT SO MUCH FOR YOUR DOG.  LETS KEEP THEM SAFE THIS YEAR AND OUT OF THE SHELTERS BY PLANNING AHEAD!

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