As the Fourth of July rolls around, people’s minds go to grilling in the backyard, red, white, and blue flags, and of course, fireworks. But with all the fun of this festive holiday, we may not realize the adverse effects it can have on our pets. In an interview with Houston Family Magazine, Laura Koch, the executive manager at Meadowlake Pet Resort here in Houston, spoke more about the dangers of the holiday and the ways pet owners can make the day more comfortable for their pets.
“Statistics show that more pets go missing on the fourth than on any other holiday,” Koch said. “Fireworks make pets nervous, with the lights and the smells,” which can easily overwhelm them and cause them to panic.”
“If you’re not throwing a party and you’re going to be home, set up a safe palace [for your pets]” she recommended. “It should be an internal place, without windows.”
“Keep pets on a leash even in a fenced-in yard if taking them out [on the fourth],” she said. “A sound or a smell could cause them to run or hide.”
Koch further recommends having white noise be played in that safe space for your pet, as well as possibly using aromatherapy depending on what calms your dog down. Treats, as always, are also a great option.
“Anything to make that safe space comfortable,” she said.
“But if you are hosting a party, or you are not going to be home,” Koch mentioned, “take your pet somewhere else. There is a high probability of your pet sneaking out and running away.”
She added that taking them to a boarding facility like Meadowlake and having them lodged there makes the Fourth of July stress and worry-free for the pet and the pet owners. Their two locations, one on 288 and the Beltway and the other in the Galleria area allow them to provide for Houston pet owners during this time and all year round.
Koch emphasized how important bringing this topic into conversation is because of the unpredictability of what could happen with your pet on the fourth.
“People get comfortable with their pet’s behavior,” she said. “They think it would never happen.” But with the extreme nature of fireworks… dogs are not accustomed to it, and we can’t desensitize them to it. They are animals and they have instincts…they are going to react unexpectedly when they get scared. It’s a topic we should think about.”
Koch explained that these concerns go for all pets, though dogs are the main ones due to their tendency to react more extremely on the fourth due to their keen hearing and smell.
“It’s an unpredictable issue for all pets,” she said. “Any caged animals, move them to an internal space with white noise, have extra seeds and treats for them to keep them busy.”
“Horses and other farm animals are something to really watch out for,” Koch added. “Make sure they’re in their barn and latched properly.”
Going beyond the Fourth of July, Koch lists New Year’s Eve and Halloween as two other events that can be stressful for pets.
“The doorbell is being rung all day, the door is being opened,” Koch said in regards to Halloween. “If they’re not in a separate room, costumes can be scary for pets. You have no idea what they are going to see.”
She recommends again creating a safe space for pets within the home or keeping them away entirely by having them boarded at a facility such as Meadowlake. If boarding is not an option, she suggests making pets tired through exercise or by bringing them to a pet daycare, which Meadowlake offers. That way, they can sleep through the event and not be scared by it.
“Chose treats that take time for them to get to,” Koch also recommended to keep pets distracted. “Like puzzle feeders, peanut butter in a ‘Kong’ toy… it keeps them mentally stimulated as well as interested.”
Koch stated that Meadowlake has a few spots remaining for boarding for the Fourth of July.
