You guys. My week has been so much better than last week. It was quite the emotional roller coaster ride but it’s become more of a merry-go-round these past few days. Thanks for all the kind words and support! Now back to the animals. With the 4th of July coming up, I am doing a little throwback to the post I wrote last year about pet safety, updated with new facts and tips to keep your pet safe.
Want to know a strange fact about Independence Day? It’s one of the busiest days of the year for shelters. Well, technically the 5th of July is, but it’s due to the 4th and more specifically, fireworks. It’s estimated that 1 out of 5 dogs that go missing is due to fireworks. When dogs are afraid, their natural instinct is to run and hide (unlike my cats that need to investigate everything…) so if a dog is scared of loud noises, it’ll often make a run for it.
It’s reported that animal control officers see as much as a 30%-60% increase in lost pets between July 4th and 6th. Even worse, a lot of these animals aren’t chipped or wearing ID, so returning them to their owners becomes even more difficult. Not only are the animals lost, they overcrowd the shelters that are already trying to reduce the number of dogs in their care. Chicago Animal Care and Control is way over capacity. They are already euthanizing for space, so we need to keep dogs out of our city shelter! Psst: to adopt a pup or foster one, click here!
Such a heartbreaking situation can be avoided by following a few simple precautions below from the Found Animals Foundation. Whether your pup is afraid of noises or not, be sure to pass along these tips to a friend and together, let’s help reduce the number of lost pets.
1. Be Prepared. The Fourth is a great annual reminder to be prepared in case your pet escapes or gets lost. There are three key steps to follow to increase the safe return of your pet:
- Make sure your pet is wearing an ID tag with the correct information
- Make sure your pet is microchipped.
- Double check that your pet’s microchip is registered and contains the correct name and your current phone number and address, otherwise there’s no easy way to reach you if they’re found! If your pet is chipped but not registered, you can register for free here.
2. Head indoors before the fun begins. Don’t wait for the fireworks to be in full swing before taking care of your pet. It’s best to bring him or her indoors or put them in a cozy spot well ahead of the first boom of fireworks. In addition, create a safe, escape-proof space in your home. Lower the blinds, close the windows, provide a bed or crate where they feel comfortable, offer a special chew or toy to distract them and turn on the TV or radio to help mask the noises outside.
3. Wrap them up. Confining movement in dogs and cats actually has a calming effect on them, which is why you might want to consider an anti-anxiety wrap or coat. In a pinch, you can even create one from a scarf.
4. Check the Locks: Make sure that your doors, gates, and windows are all closed prior to the fireworks display. Not only will this help muzzle the loud sounds that frighten pets, but will help prevent an escape!
Above all else, speak with your veterinarian about your pet’s specific issue. Should they need it, make sure you have the proper medication on hand prior to the holiday. Does your pet suffer from extreme anxiety? What other tips do you have? Let me know in the comments below!
Have a very happy and SAFE 4th of July everyone!
THE RESCUE:
Back at One Tail at a Time and back with some major cuties.
Calzone – Can you even with that face? I mean, come one. Is she an aardvark? A deer? A fox? Not totally sure but she’s 100% lovable. She’s only six-months-old and has plenty of puppy energy. She’d do well with someone wanting to keep up with her active lifestyle and puppy training. With that face, how can you resist? For all the details on Calzone, click here.
Tiger – OMG this baby lamb. If you want a dog to bring along with you and snuggle up with you at all times, Tiger is the dog for you. He’s about eight-years-old and super sweet. I didn’t want to put him down, I wanted to put him in my pocket and take him home with me. If you want to too, click here.
THE STYLE:
Crickey! It’s a safari! And, I’m done. I am a sucker for the perfect midi skirt because it’s office and summer appropriate. Obviously one with an animal print and I’m sold. This was an easy buy, plus it’s on major sale! I paired it with my sanctuary tank and new summer sandals (under $50!) check out the look below!
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”3186107″]
xoxo,
Christine
All photos: Margaret Rajic
