3 ways to help your dog through Fourth of July fireworks this year
Fireworks displays trigger panic in many dogs, sending pets bolting from yards and making July 5 the busiest day of the year at animal shelters. The SPCA of Wake County offers tips to keep pets calm and safe during Independence Day celebrations.
FULL STORY: Dogs and fireworks shows aren’t a good combo. A 4th of July safety checklist
Here are key takeaways:
- Leave pets indoors during fireworks shows. Remember that fireworks may go off in the days and evenings leading up to July 4th, not just on the holiday itself.
- Block out firework noise by turning on the radio, TV or music, and distract your pet with a tasty treat like a frozen Kong stuffed with peanut butter.
- Talk to your veterinarian about anxiety medications, or try a Thundershirt or similar pet wrap, which Wake SPCA says have been shown to reduce fear and anxiety.
Make sure your pet wears an ID tag and that the microchip is updated with your correct address and phone number so you can be reunited quickly if they get loose. Alert neighbors through apps like Nextdoor within the first hour. You can also upload a photo to the Petco Love Lost database, then call your county animal shelter, hang posters and post on social media within 24 hours.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
