Keep Your Pet Safe on July 4th

Returning home from a holiday celebration, Sharon Moore and her family discovered feces on their living room floor. The sliding glass door to their backyard was open, and a hole had been dug under their fence.

The Moores were gone for only four hours, but D.O.G., their two-year-old, aptly-named white German Shepherd, was gone. Left on her own to face the tumult of fireworks and loud celebrations, she escaped, apparently to seek the familiar—her family, even if she had no idea where to look.

"From what we can tell, when D.O.G. heard the fireworks she freaked out and pooped on the floor inside—for the first time ever—then she opened the sliding glass door with her paw, and dug a hole outside our fence.... She went searching for us," says Sharon Moore of Maitland, Florida.

The Moores' search for D.O.G. ended when she was found dead alongside a road where she was often walked.

Moore believes that D.O.G., who wasn't normally scared of thunder or other loud noises, panicked from the cumulative effects of the fireworks, the excited voices outside, and her lonely status inside the house.

The Moores' tragic loss isn't unique. Pets across the nation often become frightened and frantic by the noise and commotion of Independence Day. In fact, animal shelters across the country are accustomed to receiving "July 4th" dogs—dogs who run off during fireworks celebrations and are rescued by animal control officers or Good Samaritans who take them to the safety of the local shelter.

Fortunately, preventing pet problems on Independence Day is possible by simply planning ahead and taking some basic precautions.

"With a little bit of planning and forethought, you can enjoy the excitement of the Fourth of July and know that your animal companion is safe, sound, and enjoying a little peace and quiet," says Nancy Peterson, an issues specialist with The HSUS.

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 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.

• If you plan to go away for the holiday weekend, read our information on Caring for Pets When You Travel.

If you follow these simple precautions, you and your pet can have a safe and happy Fourth of July.

Reprinted with permission from The Humane Society of the United States.

Coping with Allergies to Companion Animals

One thing to know about being a pet owner is that it is never easy. While pets bring joy and companionship to our lives on a daily basis, they also require training, veterinary care, time, love, attention, and even tolerance. And that tolerance is especially necessary when a pet owner is allergic to his or her companion animal.

Studies show that approximately 15% of the population is allergic to dogs or cats. An estimated one-third of persons in the U.S. who are allergic to cats (about 2 million people) live with at least one cat in their household anyway. In a study of 341 adults who were allergic to cats or dogs and had been advised by their physicians to give up their pets, only one out of five did. What's more, 122 of them obtained another pet after a previous pet had died. It's clear that the benefits of pet companionship outweigh the drawbacks of pet allergies for many pet owners. Living comfortably with a companion animal despite being allergic to him requires a good understanding of the allergic condition and adherence to a few rules.

All cats and dogs are allergenic (allergy-causing) to people who are allergic to animals. Cats tend to be more allergenic than dogs for most allergic people, although some people are more sensitive to dogs than cats. Contrary to popular belief, there are no "non-allergenic" breeds of dogs or cats; even hairless breeds of dogs and cats may be highly allergenic. Dogs with soft, constantly-growing hair the poodle or the bichon frise, for example may be less irritating to some individuals, although this may be because they are bathed and groomed more frequently. One dog or cat of a particular breed may be more irritating to an individual allergy sufferer than another animal of that same breed.

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Leaving Your Pet in a Parked Car
Can Be a Deadly Mistake

Never leave your pet unattended in a parked car for any period of time. On a warm day, the temperature in a parked car can reach 120?F in a matter of minutesèXven with the car windows partially open. Your pet can quickly suffer brain damage or die from heatstroke or suffocation when trapped in high temperatures. This is what you should do if your pet is exposed to high temperatures:

• Be alert for the signs of heat stress?eavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting, or a deep red or purple tongue.
  
  
• If your pet becomes overheated, you must lower his body temperature immediately.
  
  
• Move your pet into the shade and apply cool (not cold) water all over her body to gradually lower her body temperature.
  
  
• Apply ice packs or cold towels to your pet? head, neck, and chest only.
  
  
• Let your pet drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.
  
  
• Finally, take your pet directly to a veterinarian?t could save your pet? life.

If you see an animal in a car exhibiting any signs of heat stress, call your local animal care and control agency or police department immediately!

You don? just expose your pet to the dangers of heat stress when you leave him in a car, you also expose him to pet theft. Thousands of pets are stolen each year from unattended cars.

Taking your pet for a ride may seem like fun, but many pets prefer to spend time with you in the comfort and safety of home. Explore activities that you and your pet can share at home and avoid taking risks by leaving your pet in the car.

If you must take your pet with you in your car, do so safely: Cats should ride in pet carriers, and dogs should ride in travel crates or be on a leash. When a pet travels, she should wear two ID tags?ne with a home address and one with a destination address.

Reprinted with permission from the Humane Association of the United States.

Problem Child? How a Pet Sitter & Dog Day Care can Save Your House!

We've all had one or know someone who has, that problem dog that tears everything up while you are away at work or out for a night on the town. I've personally had two, an American Eskimo that loved to tear up walls and carpet when it was storming and a Border Collie/Springer Spaniel mix that enjoyed long days digging in the yard and chewing on our deck. We tried Bitter Apple which normally works great for small problems. People suggested Vaseline and cayenne pepper which sounded harsh at first but after 4 dog door replacements we were happy to give it a shot. All ended up just being extra seasoning for our freaked out/bored babies. My wife and I talked about pet sitting & day care and checked with friends to see if anyone else had used them, normally when we did we were laughed at. Then we looked at the price and were scared. In the end, we tried it anyway. The first time we dropped them off we were leery, when we saw video of their day and took our worn out puppies home... we were true believers!

We started taking our puppies on Tuesdays and Thursdays figuring Mondays they would have had enough action from the weekend and hoping that Wednesday and Friday they would be worn out from the previous day's activities, it worked for us. It's been over a year now and we have not had to replace a dog door since. Well... except after we added a new larger dog in the family that could not fit through the other one. We've also kept a dog sitter on call just in case our dog day care is booked for the day we want to take them. This is also a great way to get energy out.

Dog Day Care has done wonders for socializing our "kids" with other "kids" and have kept them from tearing up our house when we're gone. To see if dog day care or dog sitter is right for you, just look at your best friend and think, "Wouldn't they be happier with companionship all day long? How much money are they costing me in damage? Would it be nice to sleep late? And work out what works for your budget and best friend. Visit our dog sitter or dog day care section to find someone near you.

Finding a Lost Pet

When your beloved dog or cat strays from home, it can be a traumatic experience for both of you. Here are some tips that we hope will help you find your pet.

• Contact local animal shelters and animal control agencies. File a lost pet report with every shelter within a 60-mile radius of your home and visit the nearest shelters daily, if possible. To find your local shelter go to www.pets911.com or check your phone book. If there is no shelter in your community, contact the local police department. Provide these agencies with an accurate description and a recent photograph of your pet. Notify the police if you believe your pet was stolen. More>>