FOURTH OF JULY: Take precautions to protect pets from panic over fireworks

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JOED VIERA/CONTRIBUTOR

July 4, 2009

By Daniel Pye<br><a href="mailto:dan.pye@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Dan</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Sat Jul 04, 2009, 02:20 AM EDT

TOWN OF TONAWANDA — City of Tonawanda officials are going ahead with today’s fireworks display, but the Common Tern isn’t the only animal around here likely to object.

SPCA spokeswoman Gina Browning said pets of all types will likely be riding out the fireworks under beds or whimpering at the door.

“Animals who are hypersensitive to loud sounds are going to have some level of stress during thunderstorms and Independence Day celebrations. For some animals, it’s not a trigger. Unfortunately, for most animals, it is,” she said.

That fear is worse than anxiety commonly caused by loud strangers or new babies coming home, because at least in those situations, there is something the animal can see and smell to provide context. Dogs, in particular, react to strange noises in an effort to protect what they consider their “pack,” Browning said. But when fireworks start and the noise’s point of origin can’t be pinned down, animals’ confusion may cause them to react in many different ways.

“Some react with fear, maybe having accidents in the house where they’ve never had accidents before. Others can react aggressively and bite when they’ve never bit before. Stress in animals makes them react in different ways, and obviously it’s not like a child where you can reason with them,” Browning said.

The few days following July 4 are the SPCA’s biggest time for finding strays, due in part to panicked animals fleeing their homes. Browning said pets can be expected to bolt for open windows or doors when the noise starts, as a means of escape, with some even breaking through screens. And since the noise doesn’t stop for the better part of an hour, pets can run further than ever before, making it more difficult to find them.

“If your pet does go missing, don’t just check your local shelter,” Browning said. “Especially with hounds, they could make it pretty far, so it’s important to check multiple shelters in the area.”

There are some tricks to helping pets make the best of a bad situation. Even though an animal could be sensitive to noise, household noises they’re familiar with are easier to understand and endure. Especially for those who live some distance away from fireworks, turning up the TV or radio a little louder than normal can overpower the sound of fireworks and make an animal more comfortable. Browning said having someone the animal knows at home is also a big help.

“They don’t understand. It’s like their little world could be coming to an end; they don’t know,” Browning said. “But they’ll run to you for comfort, like saying, ‘Well, at least if the world is ending, I’m with you.’”

For animals that react more violently, a sedative obtained from the veterinarian’s office could be in order. Browning said she’s seen that path work well for some and not for others, depending on the severity of a pet’s reaction to loud noises.

“For some people who are still watching their animal walking shakily on day two, they’re thinking it wasn’t worth it,” Browning said. “But for others whose dogs would really panic, maybe it is worth it.”

One thing that is specifically not recommended is bringing a dog to the park for fireworks and leaving the pet in the car. Doing so simultaneously corners and isolates the animal, often leading to a frantic escape attempt that damages the vehicle.

Planning for the worst-case scenario is also important, since frightened animals have a tendency to escape, despite their owners’ best efforts. Identification tags or microchips can turn such an escape into a quick reunion, and owners of animals who escape without ID might have to put a lot more effort into the rescue operation.

“People need to perform a sophisticated search and not just rely on others to find their pets,” Browning said. “Don’t rely on a phone call, because nobody knows your pet like you do.”

Contact reporter Daniel Pye at 693-1000, ext. 158.

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