Get ready for the signs to show up. More pets run away and go missing on July 4th than any other day of the year and it all comes down to one thing: Careless owners.
It’s not the holiday’s fault or our fellow citizens enjoying the celebration of our great nation. It’s the fault of careless owners.
Between the two of us, we have a combined 120 years of pet ownership, and we have NEVER lost a pet to holiday noise or otherwise.
“…but he’s an outdoor cat”
“…it’s okay, our yard is fenced in”
“…I only let him out for a moment”
For all the responsible pet owners this information should be old news or at the very least a simple reminder.
First, let's acknowledge that all pets are not the same. Research from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found that 62% of dogs, 55% of horses and 54% of cats show signs of anxiety when they hear fireworks. Some dogs and cats, along with other pets, handle fireworks just fine but for those that don’t, this is what this article is for. We know many responsible people who have trained hunting dogs to the point where the fireworks do not bother them. One of our cats would actually sit inside the window and watch the fireworks. Key Word: Inside.
Secondly, fireworks are not the same as when a lot of us were younger. Long gone are the days of “ladyfingers” and “Whistling Pete’s”. Today’s fireworks are louder and brighter. Not just the local large displays but the smaller public bought ones.
So why do they affect animals so much? Let’s start with dogs. Dogs have eighteen muscles in each ear and can turn their ears in multiple directions. Humans have just three (we have up to ten, but they are basically useless). The more muscles you have in your ears, the more nerves you must have to turn them. This translates to dogs hearing sounds four times further than humans.
Dog ears are also sensitive to barometric changes which can trigger fear reactions, such as fight-or-flight, in which case your dog will run.
Cats have 32 muscles with specific cone-shaped ears, which can amplify sound waves two or three times for certain frequencies. They can move their ears 180 degrees, which allows them to pinpoint sounds along with specific cone-shaped ears that can amplify sound waves up to two to three times.
For cats, it all comes down to creating fear and anxiety, which can lead your cat to run away from home and get lost. This leads to an increased chance of harm from vehicles and, worst of all, predators.
So, let’s start with pet safety for the Fourth of July.
Keep your pet indoors. Even if your pet normally spends its time outside, you must keep it inside for any large, outdoor, public firework display or if your local neighborhood is prone to launching its own. This prevents them from running away. You would be amazed how high a fence a dog can get over when terrified. If you must take your dog out, make sure they are on a leash, however, our experiences with our dogs have always been that they will not go out during fireworks. If your cat is not already an indoor cat, then bring them inside, plain and simple. Some people begin their celebrations early so don’t think it’s safe until dark.
Escape-proof your house by shutting windows, doors and cat/dog doors.
Establish a safe room for your cat or dog. Don’t use a small room like a closet, a laundry room or a place where they could get stuck. Give them a safe place to hide, like a box or under the bed with their favorite blanket or toy. Keep the curtains closed. If your dog or cat is crate trained, then put that in there as it is already a safe spot for them, but make sure to leave the door open. We have found that music in the background is good, but remember, if you live near where the big stuff goes off, like College Street or the Tumwater Valley, the soothing music will be drowned out. And if your pet has an accident while in their safe room then please do not get angry at them. Put some pads or a towel down instead. It’s only for one night.
If you have the option and are not entertaining guests, try to stay with your pet in their safe room. Don’t try to pick up your animal, especially if your cat is distressed, as increased stress levels can cause sudden aggression. Cats, in particular, need a long time to calm down, so just leave them alone until the next day.
If your animal, especially dogs, is prone to anxiety attacks, then some vets may recommend prescription medicine such as Trazodone. There are many over-the-counter calming products available at pet stores, but the results could vary among individual animals. The “Thundershirt” (from Thunderworks) is intended to relieve stress with gentle, all-over pressure. We have had mixed results but, again, it depends on the individual dog.
Make sure your pet is microchipped. That is one of the most assured ways of having your pet identified and returned to you if, Heaven forbid, you were to lose your pet on this holiday or any other day. Collars with tags, easily purchased at almost any store, are a relatively cheap and easy option, but remember that most cat collars, along with some small dog collars, are now made to break away if they become trapped.
We hope everyone and their pets have a Safe and Happy Fourth of July.
God Bless the United States of America.
Thom Donitz and Trish Lynn are neighbors and close friends who share their love of animals and wildlife. Trish and Thom are residents of Tumwater. Contact them at pets@theJOLTnews.com.
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KellyOReilly
Thank you for this information--I hope pet owners heed it and their pets will stay safe. One of our cats is on my lap as I type this--he's the one who hides under the bed during fireworks. We've come to dread the 4th of July because of the noise which is not limited to one day but often several days and may even include gunshots. And then there is the poor air quality that comes on July 4th and 5th which is especially annoying for those of us without air-conditioning. Anyway, our cats are 100% indoor and they will be safe and hopefully not too stressed out this year.
Wednesday, July 3 Report this
Terrilovesanimals
You have great tips but you cannot out right say it's because of careless owners! Things happen that are beyond the owner's reach! As a cautions pet owner I resent that remark! There are emergencies and circumstances that an owner has no control over. You cannot simply lock a cat in a closet or a room. What if something catches on fire on the stove?
But yes, GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Wednesday, July 3 Report this
Springer02
Thank you again for well thought out information. Always a pleasure to and learn.
Our pets (who have passed) hated fireworks! Nothing worked to calm them. Used vet prescription for Trazodon, this worked well they slept comfortable and no shakes, panting and stress.
I totally AGREE with the author, Irresponsible Pet Owners cause the majority of lost pets. I would NEVER leave my pet home alone on this day KNOWING how they react. Yes, accidents happen and they do slip out, BUT as a Responsible Pet owner make sure they have collar and tags! I see indoor pets without either. This is the responsibility of the owner!
Stay Safe and Sane.
Wednesday, July 3 Report this
Skneip
Totally disagree with your premise: “It’s not the holiday’s fault or our fellow citizens enjoying the celebration of our great nation. It’s the fault of careless owners.” Not always. I witnessed a problem a few years ago where the owners locked their dog in their garage because they’d be out on the 4th. Their dog died of a heart attack due to the crazy fireworks on the street outside. And today on Nextdoor.com someone posted about their horses breaking down their stalls and injuring themselves due to neighbors setting off mortars. And what about the wildlife??!? I saw a dead River otter on the 5th of July that had been hit by a car at least a mile from the river. There's fun, harmless fireworks and then there are things like mortars that have no function other than making war like explosions. It’s just awful and not necessary. (Not even mentioning people with ptsd). Get real and don’t be so dismissive of the harm caused.
Friday, July 5 Report this