KID NEWS:  Dogs and Cats Disappear on the Fourth of July – More Than Any Other Day – Here’s WHY and HOW to Help
Did you know that more pets become lost on July 4th, more than any other day of the year?  It’s true.  They are much more likely to run away or hide – and resist coming home, or have trouble finding it, again.
At 4th of July, in particular, police departments, and shelters, across the nation, reminds pet lovers:  The sounds of fireworks can elicit feelings of fear and anxiety for them.  In fact, these can be understandably interpreted by them as warnings of danger.
And they endure a much tougher audio experience than we do.  Dogs can hear more than twice as many frequencies as humans.  So, those bangs and booms are more intense – and there are more plosive sounds added in… the ones we can’t hear, but they can.  Plus, they feel these massive sound vibrations through their feet much more keenly than we do.  And they see the flashes of light differently.  

To keep your pets safe and as comfortable as possible:

  • Early in the day, try to exercise your pet, so that he or she is more likely to be tired, and sleep a bit more, or a bit better.
  • Provide a reassuring area, where they usually rest, with as much insulation from the sounds as you can provide – maybe a bedroom, with favorite cushions and toys – and be with them, distract them from the sounds, if you can.
  • If you can be with them, try to provide reassuring soft talk and sweet names and petting.
  • You may choose to contact your veterinarian, to ask about medication.
  • Finally, do make sure your pets are wearing location tags, like a Tile chip on the collar.

Comforting time, together, will help keep your beloved animals calm.

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