July 4th 2007

Hi All,

When I used to volunteer at the Pasadena Humane Society, everyone on the staff would talk about July 4th as if it were some kind of Doggie Rescue "D-Day." I was told that Independence Day was the 1 day of the year that had the highest influx of dogs into the shelter, mainly from around the Rose Bowl area. This was due to a combination of doors in the home being left open or constantly being opened by party guests, inadvertently creating an easy escape route for household pets, plus the abundance of fireworks displays throughout the day, which are notorious for spooking dogs and creating a panicked desire to escape.

If you know that your dog is afraid of loud noises, thunderstorms, and potentially fireworks, or if your dog is new to you and you're not sure, be especially vigilant this 4th of July.

Do NOT bring your dog with you to a Fireworks Display, and do NOT leave him in the car! The intensity of the sights and sounds is likely to cause at best mild anxiety and fear for your pet and at worst he may escape, eliminate in or destroy the car. In any case, he will not enjoy it.

DO leave your pet at home in a safe, comfortable, enclosed area away from windows and screen/glass doors, with blinds closed and the TV or radio on at normal volume to help mask the sounds of the fireworks. Remove any items that your pet could destroy or harm himself by chewing, as dogs can become destructive and chew to soothe themselves when stressed and anxious.

Do NOT leave your dog outside in the backyard unattended, or even chained up. If your dog gets spooked, he could go to great lengths to escape your yard, or become entangled in his chain and harm or even choke himself in a frenzied anxiety attack.

DO make sure that before leaving home, you give your dog a chance to completely eliminate. Eliminating in the house can be another fear/anxiety reaction to fireworks.

Do NOT crate your dog for the first time. If your dog has never been crated, July 4th is not a good day to start! The dog may associate the crate with the fireworks and hurt himself trying to escape, or develop a lifelong fear of crates as a result.

DO consider boarding your pet for the day at a reputable facility away from any large fireworks displays where he can be monitored and kept safe.

DO take the time to make sure that your pet is wearing intact, up-to-date tags with your address and phone number, as well as a microchip (which is available through your veterinarian or the Pasadena Humane Society). Both are necessary, as many times your dog may be found by a passerby near your home, who can easily return your dog to you if they have your address and phone number. The microchip can be scanned by a Veterinarian or Shelter who can then access your contact information.

If you know from experience that your pet is severely afraid of fireworks, DO discuss possible medical treatment options for Independence Day with your veterinarian beforehand.

If you find that your pet is fearful of fireworks, contact me to discuss possible training treatment options.

Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July!