Molly is a nine-month-old bundle of wiggling puppy exuberance who is ready to play. Courtesy
Ahead of the fireworks, barbecues and summer camaraderie during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, it’s important to consider how pets may feel amid the commotion. While the nation’s 250th birthday provides humans with plenty to celebrate, pets may feel differently as crowds, loud booms and passing sirens can be overwhelming.
To give pet owners peace of mind and set dogs and cats up for success this Fourth of July, national nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society is offering tips to help keep pets at ease during the annual festivities.
Stay calm: Check when local fireworks are scheduled and bring pets indoors beforehand. Set dogs and cats up in a cozy room with closed windows, drawn curtains and their favorite toys or blanket. Try playing calming music or turn on the TV to help muffle the noise.Keep it clean: Promptly clear the property of any firework debris if celebrating at home as they contain chemicals and heavy metals that can be seriously harmful if a pet were to get into them. Keep a close eye on dogs and cats during backyard time and on walks following the holiday in case neighbors indulged in the celebrations.Hold the scraps: While a cookout spread might be tempting to share, many summer staples including avocados, grapes, onions and ice cream are toxic to pets. For those who can’t resist sharing a treat from the table, try frozen watermelon chunks, blueberries or baby carrots as safe, pet friendly alternatives.Tag up: Double-check that the information on a pet’s identification tag and microchip are current before the holiday weekend. Should they get startled and run off, up-to-date contact information will help bring them home. Year round, microchips are essential in helping keep pets and their people together and is key in helping the country achieve no-kill, which means saving every healthy and treatable pet in shelters.Plan ahead: Pet owners should have emergency contact information easily accessible, or saved in their phone, so if an emergency happens, they can quickly reach out for help. Key contact information to have on hand includes local emergency veterinary clinics and nearby shelters.
Pet of the Week: Molly
This week’s featured pet is Molly, a nine-month-old bundle of wiggling puppy exuberance, ready to play. A true extrovert, Miz Molly is friendly to everyone she meets. She was brought as a stray to the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter, and the shelter reports Molly is very treat-motivated. She’s about 40 pounds; with her mixed breed status nothing is certain, but she will probably grow to be a medium-sized dog. After a month-long stay, Molly is eager to meet her future playmate and leave the shelter behind.
