As new pup owners ourselves, I thought I would rerun these valuable July 4th tips from PetCare Group owner Jen Louis.
“July 4th is my least favorite holiday,” says Jen Louis, owner of PetCare Group, a local pet-sitting organization. “It’s brutal.” In a Finnish study of 13,700 dog owners, 70 percent of respondents reported their dogs became anxious during loud fireworks displays. It was the top reported fear.
“Mostly dogs are affected by fireworks, but cats often get scared as well,” says Jen. “Caged pets like rabbits are also not fond of fireworks.”
While there is always a push to limit fireworks displays, it is unlikely you’ll be able to avoid them completely. So for the inevitable explosions, Jen has some tips to get through the night (ok, probably more likely, the week.)
“We always recommend people keep dogs and cats in a safe place when they know fireworks are going to happen: a closed room, a crate if dogs are used to it, with windows closed and shades drawn to help muffle the noise. A TV on to help drown out the sound is also helpful,” she says.
“There’s something called a Thundershirt that helps some dogs, too. It’s almost like a compression jacket that helps provide sensory stimulus and in turn, calms the dog,” she says.
Jen also recommends pets be microchipped and have on a collar with proper identification in case they run. “It’s best to not leave your pet alone during fireworks if you know your pet is anxious with them. They’ll need your company to make them feel safe.”
Thanks, Jen for the tips!
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