Pets and Fireworks

WASHINGTON — The Fourth of July is around the corner. While planning Independence Day celebrations, people should bear in mind that pets can become distressed by the additional noise and commotion of the holiday. The Humane Society of the United States strongly encourages pet owners to protect their pets from potential harm by adhering to the following safeguards:

• Leave your pet at home. Fireworks displays can be disorienting and frightening to most pets.

• Create a home sanctuary. Leave your pet in an area of your home where he or she is safe, comfortable and sheltered from any outside raucous. If you cannot stay with them, leave a radio or TV on at normal level to keep them company.

• Protect your property. When scared, some animals can become destructive, so be sure to remove anything that can become damaged or might harm your pet if it was to be chewed.

• Never leave pets outside and unattended. Even in a fenced in yard, panic can lead a pet to escape and get lost, or become injured while trying to seek refuge.

• Make sure that your pet is always wearing identification. In the unfortunate event that your pet was to get lost, an updated identification tag greatly increases your chances of being reunited.

• If your pet fears loud noises such as thunder, fireworks won't fly. In that case, consult your veterinarian before July 4 on how to lower your pet's stress level.

• If you plan to go away for the holiday, decide what will be the best option for your pet. The HSUS Web site, www.hsus.org, features information on traveling with your pet, choosing a professional sitter, and finding a boarding kennel.

"It's understandable that people want to include their family members - including pets - in their holiday celebrations," said Nancy Peterson, HSUS issues specialist for companion animals. "However, most pets are more likely to enjoy their comfortable routines. Save the fireworks and fanfare for your human companions, and for everyone, have a safe and fun holiday."

I'd suggest copying this and passing it along to everyone you know who owns a pet of some sort.

Geez it doesn't seem like a year ago you posted this warning DK- time flies huh

DK - thank you, you are SO right! It can be so tramatizing for our little friends.

My Penny (one of 2 beagles) has panic attacks when there's thunder and lightning. She starts panting and hiding around my legs, wherever I am. The best I can do is close the windows and blinds, and turn up the TV. The other night it started just as I was getting ready for bed, so I couldn't leave her alone which meant she slept with me. That meant I couldn't leave my other Beagle alone.....which meant she slept with me too. My daughter was away, so her chahuahua couldn't be left alone...she slept with me too, and naturally we couldn't leave MY chahuahua behind...so, it was a full house in my bed that night!:blowkiss:

Gotta just share this little story about my lovely Irish Setter I had when I was a little girl. His name was Sandy and he was soooo wonderful. Someone tried to shoot him somewhere sometime and he became afraid of thunder and any really loud noise. Forget about fireworks. Even keeping him indoors didn't feel like we were doing enough for him, but he seemed to be reassured.

One time, I was staying with my grandmother on her farm in NC. An excaped convict (rapist and murderer) had been seen in the area! It was dark and beginning to storm when we heard a big bang and a thump thump thump. Then there was a hesitation - like someone was standing at the front door. We were past hyperventilation. Finally, we discovered it was poor Sandy! The thunder scared him, he jumped the gate that closed off the porch and was standing at the door hoping to get in!

Please keep your poor little pets away from those awful fireworks! Wish poor Sandy had been kept away from that mean old man with the gun as well!!

gaia

Thank you gaia. I am so glad that your beautiful dog came to the front door instead of running off to, "escape" the bad thunder. And, I'm glad it wasn't the escaped rapist murderer. We get more rescues that end up being returned to otherwise good homes during the 4th of July weekend and around New years Eve than at any other time. Many climb over or dig under fences they would normally not attempt to escape from. Some are hit by cars or are lost permanently. Thank you DK for posting this warning to us.

Lion

Went out to 4th of July Fireworks show with my fiance and soon-to-be in-laws and we saw this couple with their two small children walking around their dog. I say to my fiance, "This can't be good."

Fire works go off. BOOM! 1 minute later I see the dog scrambling across the area where the fireworks were with the owners chasing after it. I really hope they found it, but that dog was absolutely flying.

*bumping for the pets*

My dog must be strange.....he loves anything bright and shiney......if we have a thunder storm he runs to the back yard and barks at the lightening strikes.

Thanks for bringing this up Dark Knight!!!
I'll do everyone a favor and not even get started on how bad it frustrates me to see people taking pets to fireworks. :slap:

dingo said:

My dog must be strange.....he loves anything bright and shiney......if we have a thunder storm he runs to the back yard and barks at the lightening strikes.

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I think it's a lab thing Josie barks at fireworks We don't get many true thunderstorms here, but she sure loves the rain. She's afraid of one thing I can think of...UMBRELLAS!!!!

Jake doesnt see many umbrellas but he is scared of the neighbours cat.. .........Jake also likes to steal bath towells from the bathroom ... he then places them on the loungeroom floor and barks at them....I have no idea why he does this.

Dingo, that is hilarious!! You need to catch that on video! Wonder what it is about the towels? We have kitties, so Josie isn't afraid of them, but if she sees kitties in the neighborhood, she wants to kill them!!

Josie doesn;t see many umbrellas here either, but when they come out she goes running.

I will try to catch him on vid Kris......Jake has lots of strange habits...he has cornflakes for brekky and he likes toast with vegemite plus lots of fruit and veges...... I reckon Josie and Jake would have a ball together

Aww, Dingo...maybe we'll have to arrange a date for Jake and Josie

Josie has lots of odd habits, too. She loves tomatoes and sugar snap peas. Also, she adores oranges and pizza crust!

Such wonderful doggies we've got, huh?

TopGunner said:

DK - thank you, you are SO right! It can be so tramatizing for our little friends.

My Penny (one of 2 beagles) has panic attacks when there's thunder and lightning. She starts panting and hiding around my legs, wherever I am. The best I can do is close the windows and blinds, and turn up the TV. The other night it started just as I was getting ready for bed, so I couldn't leave her alone which meant she slept with me. That meant I couldn't leave my other Beagle alone.....which meant she slept with me too. My daughter was away, so her chahuahua couldn't be left alone...she slept with me too, and naturally we couldn't leave MY chahuahua behind...so, it was a full house in my bed that night!:blowkiss:

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Thunder & lightning frighten Apache also. He doesn't jump in bed with me, he jumps in bed ON me shaking so bad his teeth chatter. It doesn't seem to phase Tyson at all. LOL TopGunner, bet you were all warm and cozy with all those furbabies to snuggle with!

When my Mom's dog hears fireworks or thumder she becomes a poopping machine. it just flies out of her butt. And she shakes like a leaf. The other one runs if anyone coughs.

My cats are so traumatized by fireworks. They hide under the beds even when inside.

My parents have to put the thoroughbreds up in the barn at this time of year because they can injure themselves from fear.

I'm not too fond of fireworks myself for this reason. Until midnight, fine. At three a.m., not so fine.

Texana said:

My cats are so traumatized by fireworks. They hide under the beds even when inside.

My parents have to put the thoroughbreds up in the barn at this time of year because they can injure themselves from fear.

I'm not too fond of fireworks myself for this reason. Until midnight, fine. At three a.m., not so fine.

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I'm taking care of my friends horses while her and hubby are out town. I didn't even think to ask her if they get spooked from fireworks. I can't get a hold of her easily where they are, so I may just put them in their stalls as a precaution if I don't talk to her.

thanks so much for posting that, Dark Knight ~ and I did copy and paste it on another boards "Animal Planet" forum. I personally hate it when inconsiderate people light up fireworks in residential neighborhoods. I have indoor cats and they do get scared.

*bumping for the critters*