Fido, you have to say indoors today.
July 4th tops the list for American celebrations. Fun, BBQ and fireworks, what a great time? It’s a terrifying ordeal for most pets. What’s the best solution for calming anxiety and fears? Have an outgoing generally calm dog? Try integrating them into the festivities. A more practical approach: Keep pets indoors and practice these calming techniques.
One in five pets will disappear this 4th of July. A family pet is lost every 2 seconds with over 10 million pets lost annually. Animal shelters see a 40 - 60% increase in lost pets during the July 4th holiday. Only one in 10 pets are found. Follow the below top tips to keep your family together.
What is it about Dogs, Cats, Humans and Independence Day?
Noise of course. July 4th can be dramatic day for our beloved pets. July 5th is the busiest day for animal shelters. With fireworks now legal in Georgia, this number continues to rise. Why is it? Consider the amplified hearing of both dogs and cats. Check out the comparison chart below to what a dog, cat and human hears from a firecracker.
Depending upon the construction and if it detonates on the ground vs. sky, fireworks often exceed 150 decibels. This approaches the threshold for what is considered to be harmful to humans.
Typical Firecracker
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120 dB
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Dog’s Hearing
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400 dB
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******
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Cat’s Hearing
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300 dB
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****
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Human Hearing
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100 dB
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***
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Best Tips for Dogs & Cats
If your dog or cat must remain or go outdoors, make sure they’re wearing an up-to-date collar and/or microchip. Does your pet have extreme reactions? Ask your veterinarian about potential sedatives to take the edge off and soothe your counterpart.Canines have a front seat to any Fireworks show. With hearing 4 times that of humans and better than felines, a popping firework is more like an exploding bomb to your dog. Felines aren’t far behind dogs. They hear 3 to 4 times more than their human counterparts.
Dogs
- Before the festivities begin, take your dog for 1 - 2 long walks or runs. This will release energy and chemicals in the brain creating relaxation and calming.
- It’s okay to be concerned, but don’t show fear or excessive concern. Canines pick up on our behavior. If you’re nervous, they’ll start to become nervous.
- Distraction is a great method. His favorite toy will redirect his attention while naturally calming
- Give him distance. If he is coping badly and hiding, the last thing he needs as you standing over him exacerbating the issue.
- ThunderShirts, a snug anti-anxiety vest, relaxes most dogs with what some call a hugging sensation. The next best thing, is a real hug.
- Move your pet to the quietest room in the house
- Close all blinds and curtains to reduce the flashes associated with fireworks
- NEVER yell or let your own nerves get the best of you
Cats
- Keep cats indoors
- Most cats will simply find a nice warm place to sleep and tune the noises out
- Keep a TV or radio playing at a decent volume to mitigate the loud noises popping in from outside
- If your cat doesn’t have his own bed, make a donut shape with a blanket. They we’ll curl up and dose off now feeling comfortable in their little cocoon of protection
- If you have a kitten or cat still young at heart, take out their favorite toy and some catnip. This will both distract, calm and change the negative association with the loud noises
- NEVER yell or let your own nerves get the best of you
What to do if your pet is missing?
The ASPCA has created a wonderful free app for helping find a lost pet. More than just a lost pet tool. It stores medical records and provides life saving tips during emergencies.- Access critical advice on handling your pet before, during and after and a traumatic event, i.e., loud noises
- Store and manage your pet’s health records
- Get a personalized pet recovery kit, including step-by-steps instructions on everything you should do and how to to search for a lost animal.
- Create a “Lost Pet” flyer that can be shared with 1000,s instantly via social media
- Get relevant news about pets and animal welfare
Add the intense heat and humidity of July, they begin searching for water. Before long, they’re lost and in unfamiliar territory.
Where to look?
Most Common Shelters for Metro Atlanta
| Barrow County Animal Control 610 Barrow Park Dr NW Winder, GA 30680 (770) 307-3012 Carroll County Animal Shelter 251 Automation Drive Carrollton, GA 30117 (770) 214-3590 Cherokee County Animal Shelter 1015 Univeter Rd Canton, GA 30115 (770) 345-7270 Clayton County Humane Society 7810 N McDonough St Jonesboro, GA 30236 (770) 471-9436 Cobb County Animal Control 1060 Al Bishop Dr Marietta, GA 30008 (770) 499-4136 Humane Society of Cobb County 148 Fairground Street S.E. Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 428-5678 Coweta County Animal Control 91 Selt Rd Newnan, GA 30263 (770) 254-3735 Dekalb County Animal Services 845 Camp Rd Decatur, GA 30032 (404) 294-2996 Douglas County Animal Control 1755 County Services Rd Douglasville, GA 30134 (770) 942-5961 Douglas County Humane Society 8177 Cedar Mountain Rd Douglasville, GA 30134 (678) 838-9123 Fayette County Animal Control 1262 Hwy 74 S Peachtree City, GA 30269 (770) 631-7210 |
Forsyth County Animal Shelter 4065 County Way Cumming, GA 30028 (678) 965-7185 Fulton County Animal Control 860 Marietta Blvd NW Atlanta, GA 30318 (404) 613-0358 Gwinnett County Animal Shelter 884 Winder Hwy Lawrenceville, GA 30045 (770) 339-3200 Gwinnett Humane Society 3370 Sugarloaf Parkway Lawrenceville 30044 (770) 798-7711 Humane Society of Northeast Georgia 845 W Ridge Rd Gainesville, GA 30501 (770) 532-6617 Henry County Animal Care & Control 527 Hampton Rd McDonough, GA 30253 (770) 288-7387 Newton County Animal Control 210 Lower River Rd Covington, GA 30016 (770) 786-9514 Paulding County Animal Control 779 Industrial Blvd N Dallas, GA 30132 (770) 445-1511 Rockdale County Animal Control 1506 Rockbridge Rd NW Conyers, GA 30012 (770) 278-8403 Spalding County Animal Control 208 Justice Blvd Griffin, GA 30224 (770) 467-4772 Walton County Animal Control 1411 S Madison Ave Monroe, GA 30655 (770) 267-1322 |
