Real Pet Friendly – Angela Mihal, South Florida Realtor finds homes for you and your animals

The fourth of July is right around the corner and as much as I love it, my little Silvio does not. Every year the same thing… when the fireworks start cracking Silvio starts shaking. If we are on a walk (his favorite thing ever) and he even remotely hears a sound that might be a firework he will immediately tug me home.

My other dogs, although not as frightened, always drive me a little insane because they will literally bark every single time they hear that popping noise. So needless to say, the 4th really isn’t a pet-friendly holiday in my house.

This year I’m going to try to make the holiday as painless as possible for all of us. I wanted to share some great preparation tips from The Humane Society.

To protect your pet on the Fourth of July, take these precautions:

Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.

Do not leave your pet in the car. With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects—even death—in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but they do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.

Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you’ve removed any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him company while you’re attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.

If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.

Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn’t leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.

Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners. For more tips and info from The Humane Society go here.

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