Keeping Pets Safe on the Fourth of July
Backyard shenanigans: If you’re throwing your own party you need to watch what your dog or cat eats. Your dog is no doubt going to be spending time in the yard where all the excitement is because they know all too well a party means dropped food. Keep an eye on what hits the ground and make sure your dogs stays away from the more dangerous foods, like those with chicken bones that can cause a choking or a blockage. A good pet owner should refrain from giving ‘hand-outs’ but a few well-intentioned visitors may not know this rule, especially the children. Remind small guests not to give your dog or cat anything to eat or drink during their stay, as it may make the pet sick.
When the sun sets on your backyard fiesta and the sparklers come out it’s time to put the dog in the house. Simple sparklers that many parents hand to their own children are dangerous to pets. Some may be dazzled by the sparkling shine and attempt to paw or bite at it, causing serious burns. Children can inadvertently burn furry friends by waving a lit or burned out sparkler around too close to them. Remember – a sparkler stays hot enough to burn for several minutes after the sparks fade. Keep a bucket of water nearby to toss used sparkler but remember to discard of it before the dog is allowed back into the yard, as the drinking the water can make them ill.
For more experienced and/or brave revelers it may be time to haul out the big guns. Fire crackers (the ones that fizz a bit but whose primary purpose is to just make a lot of noise) and fireworks (the kind that get the oohs and ahhs) are extremely dangerous to pets. Just as you light the pyrotechnical wonder and run for cover imagine Fido retrieving the flaming ‘toy’. Whether he gets it back to you before it goes off or not – the end result is disastrous. During any sort of event in your yard that involves fire or noise – keep the pets safely inside the house.
Party in the park: Whether you’re hitting the neighborhood park for the day, going to your city’s big celebration or even taking part in the festivities at a theme park if you’re lucky enough to live near one – don’t forget the pets! When the sun goes down and the neighborhood starts getting rowdy with their own brand of backyard fun make sure you’ve placed your dog in a secure area in the house. If there’s one area of the house that is more soundproof than others try to keep your dog in that area. Leave on the television or turn on a radio to mask outside noises. Without you home the loud noises of the 4th may scare him and this can lead to a destructive behavior. Your once calm Fifi may shock you when you come home to find all of your favorite magazines ripped to shreds and a ‘present’ in one of your favorite shoes. Loud, scary noises make dogs do the darnedest things.
If your dog spends his days outside and you can’t possibly leave him in the house make sure you leave him with a large shady area to stay out of the sun and plenty of water. Remember that you will likely be gone all day and into the night as firework displays don’t go off until the sun goes down. Then there’s getting out of the park and the traffic during the ride home (staying at home is sounding better and better, isn’t it?). It’s possible that your dog will spend close to 12 hours in the great outdoors, most of which will be spent in the blistering heat. In other words – one skimpy bowl of water isn’t going to cut it. You’re going to need a few bowls of water to not only supply him with enough but give Bingo a second chance should he accidentally dump one bowl over while chasing a bird. Because he’s outside there isn’t a lot, if anything, you can do about the neighborhood noise. Try to deter any destructive behavior with extra chew toys to keep him busy.
You don’t need any fancy equipment to keep your pets safe during the 4th of July – just a little common sense and some planning ahead can make this and every summer a happy and safe one.
