The Animal Humane Society is urging Minnesotans to start preparing their pets for the upcoming 4th of July celebrations.
Spokesperson Brittany Baumann emphasizes that the most important step pet owners can take is to keep their pets safely indoors during the festivities, particularly if that includes fireworks…
“Don’t leave them in the car, don’t bring them with, leave them at home where they can be a little bit safer; don’t even leave them outside, even if you have a fenced-in backyard, they’re likely to get scared, they might try to jump that fence, dig a hole, run away.”
Baumann says if you’ll be at home, but still can’t isolate your pet from the fireworks, you can try to get a jump on the noise by trying to desensitize your pet to the sounds…
“Start playing some recordings of fireworks as background noise, very lightly, as maybe your dog is eating or you’re giving them treats or doing something with a high reward, while you’re petting them or praising them.”
She also recommends building an indoor safe haven, such as an interior room with bedding, treats, and toys. Baumann says statistics show more pets go missing on Independence Day than on any other day of the year.
(content: courtesy MNN)
