As a pet sitter in Toms River, I know that July 5th is one of the busiest days of the year for our local animal hospitals and shelters.  If you’re wondering why it’s because during all the celebrating on the 4th some pets got spooked and took off or they ate something they shouldn’t have.

Rose and Biscotti say, “Happy 4th of July!”

If you want a leg up on keeping your pets safe during the 4th of July, here’s a quick list of things you should know:

1. Tag ‘Em Up:  Make sure your pets are wearing their collars and have ID tags on them to aid in having them returned to you in case they should go missing.
2. Check Gates and Doors:  Make sure you check all your door and gates to make sure they are secure.  Frightened dogs may run full steam to get away from a situation and a loose gate or door will make an easy escape route.
3. Create a safe haven:  If your pets are sensitive to the loud BOOOOMS of fireworks, use a room in the house t create an area where they can feel safe.  Leave the TV or radio on with the volume up some to help drown out the noise.  Make sure the shades are down or blinds are shut to minimize the number of bright lights that flash in the windows.  Give them an area to make a den – whether you have cats or dogs, they will want to snuggle up and feel safe.
4. Distract them:  If your pup is upset by the fireworks, start practicing their obedience commands with them BEFORE the fireworks start and continue to give them different jobs to do during the display.  Sometimes, having something else to focus on is enough to make them ignore the noises.
5. Please don’t feed:  Just like the signs say at parks and zoos, please discourage your guests from feeding your pets.  Any change in diet can cause an upset stomach and your pet may have vomiting or diarrhea as a result.  Additionally, not all people know what foods are toxic to pets, like grapes, onions, and chocolate.
6. You booze, you lose:  Keep all alcoholic drinks away from pets, too.
7. Pay attention:  Always monitor your pet’s interactions with your guest, whether they are adults or kids.  Just because you’ve never had a problem in the past, doesn’t mean you never will.
8. Leave your pet at home:  Do your pet a favor and leave them home when you go watch the fireworks.  Between the noises and the crowd, it is often too much stimulus and stress for pets and they aren’t going to enjoy it.

We hope you find these tips helpful and have a very SAFE & HAPPY 4th of July!