Fourth Often Not Fun for Fido

by Lin McNulty

The jubilant red glare of rockets and celebratory Independence Day bombs bursting in air can be a lovely sight, if you are a human. For a pet, however, it is often a loud, noisy, frightening experience from which there is no escape.

As many pet lovers know, fireworks can cause a great deal of stress for some animals.

Signs of stress to watch for:

• Shaking, trembling
• Excessive drooling
• Barking, howling
• Trying to hide or get into / out of the house, fence, or other enclosure
• Refusing to eat food
• Some animals may loose bladder or bowel control

Trying to escape from the loud noises can mean broken windows, torn fences, chewed doors or dog crates, and result in lacerations, foot pad injuries, teeth and mouth injuries or worse as they try to run from the disturbingly loud noises.

Practice Safety:

• Keep pets home It may be tempting to bring along your dog to a fireworks display, but the loud noises aren’t usually fun for pets.
• Keep pets indoors if possible It is advisable to close the curtains and turn on the TV or radio to provide some distraction. Calming or classical music may be better than some TV or radio noise.
• Provide a safe “escape” place Many times pets will seek out a small den-like place (such as a crate), if they are fearful or stressed.
• Use a leash or carrier If you must be outside with your pet, keep the pet on a leash or in carrier at all times.
• Practice fire safety Keep pet away from matches, lighter fuel, open fires, and fireworks. Pets may try to sniff (or eat) fireworks, and pet hair can easily catch fire if too close to the source.
• Take pet for a walk first If possible, make sure that you pet has time to “use the restroom” before the fireworks start.
• Make sure pet ID is current Make sure that your pet has proper identification tags, with current information, in case s/he gets away.

It should be noted that scolding a frightened animal is not effective and will only intensify the fears.

Marsha Waunch says the Orcas Animal Protection shelter will be available to take in any strays, and will monitor phones late into the night on the Fourth, and into the early morning hours, in case there is a need. Their phone number is 376-6777.

The use of fireworks in San Juan County is limited by County Code to the hours of 9 a.m. to midnight on the Fourth of July only.