Watch fireworks; watch out for pets

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (The Haven) - Though the colors and sounds of fireworks are beautiful and entertaining to humans, they can scare our four-legged companions.

This fourth of July, it is important to take this into considerations as you plan for your fireworks display.

The Haven says that, as they watch the fireworks displays, pet owners should watch for unusual behavior from their pets as well.

They said shaking, trembling, excessive drooling, barking, trying to hide, refusing to eat or even bladder or bowel problems can all be evidence of a stressed out pet.

Statitstics from 24PetWatch report that statistics show that more pets go missing around Independence Day than at any other time during the year.

The Haven recommends that pet owners plan ahead and do one or more of the following prior to and during the holidays:

• Make sure your pets are wearing tags and, even better, are microchipped in case they get lost. Tags can fall off; microchips are permanent. Remember, The Haven is providing $10 microchipping at this time. If you miss doing it for the 4th of July, make sure they are prepared for any natural disasters where they could go missing.
• While fireworks can be fun for us, they may frighten our pets. For every tone we hear, cats can hear 10. Dogs perceive sound twice as high as we do, and older pets can be even more sensitive to loud noises. With all this over-stimulation, they can get overwhelmed and run out the nearest open door or window. Therefore, try to confine them in a quiet area of the house and make sure all doors and windows are secure.
• Close the curtains (so they won’t see the flashing lights) and play music to muffle out the popping of the fireworks.
• Try to distract your pet with toys or games, or perhaps have them play with another pet, provided that pet doesn’t have similar problems.
• If possible, stay home with them.

The Haven says pets are so much a part of our family. They said its important to ensure that these four-legged family members are not stressed out during the holidays.