Even patriotic pets can be frightened
by fireworks... take precautions

You might be one of the 80 percent that own a pet afraid of fireworks so you’ll want to make sure they stay calm and comforted through Friday’s Santa Paula Rotary Fireworks Spectacular.

The ear-splitting explosions and flashing bright lights of fireworks might thrill humans, but they can terrify dogs and cats. Every year in the days following Independence Day, shelters are filled with pets that panic at the patriotic commotion and run away in blind terror. Often they find themselves so far from home they can’t find their way back.

If you can, keep your pets indoors during the celebratory commotion and remember you still must prepare them for the fireworks.

Prolonged professional displays such as Friday’s have the most impact on pets, and dogs - with their keen sense of hearing - are the most susceptible to panic. In the frenzy caused by fireworks dogs can injure themselves and damage property.

A good rule of thumb to gauge your pet’s reaction to fireworks is how the animal handles thunder... if the dog is afraid of thunder they are likely to also have a bad reaction to fireworks.

Some dog owners must use mild tranquilizers but others find familiar sounds, playing loud music or turning up the television to mask the noise, helps... but not too loud as that can also rattle the dog’s nerves!

All pets should be put indoors in a secure room well before dark on the day of the festivities, and reassured they are safe well before fireworks begin.

The house becomes your pets’ safety zone, so it’s important to prepare it properly: make sure to keep some lights on which will calm your pet and make it feel more secure.

Dampen the noise with music or TV - a recording of rainwater soothes animals - and close the curtains in the room, but keep lights on.

Make the room cozy with familiar bedding; chew and other toys will help keep your pets amused and distracted.