A Happy 4th of July for ALL of the Family.

        So as your making your plans for the 4th of July, you probably have it all laid out: the hotdogs, the hamburgers, cheese, onions, pickles, coke, coal for the fire, etc etc.  The 4th is a time of celebration and remembrance, but for  many pets it can be a time of stress. For some pet owners, it becomes a day of regret when a pet runs away, scared of fireworks, or is given a special treat which sends they precious pup to the emergency vet.

So, what can be done so the 4th of July is a fun day for the whole family? The following tips can help keep the whole family happy and healthy.

Which if these dishes will hurt your pet?

First, consider your food, This is a site which will tell you several plants and foods which are toxic to our best friends. Some of the food you might be considering serving might need to be "for people only."

Foods for Pets to Avoid: Avocado, any fruit with a pit, grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts, mushrooms, nutmeg, onions, and of course chocolate can all be very dangerous for your pup.

Additionally, large amounts of garlic, specific parts of tomatoes, potatoes, and rhubarb can be toxic. Also, one thing few people think of is any "sugar free" food; Artificial sweeteners such as Xylitol (in tea, soda, cookies, etc etc) can be toxic to your pet, so when in doubt, don't share! Also, remember grill scraps and pork can upset stomachs (and possibly cause pancreatitis) so again, no sharing.

If you really would like to share a special treat with your pooch, consider some plain white rice, boiled chicken, or making a pet safe homemade dog cookie in a patriotic shape like a star, or make them some "doggy ice cream." Here are two sites which have some pet safe recipes (I would avoid anything involving bacon: DIY Dog Treats and Created by Diane: Pet Treats.

We would like to think the 4th is
a fun time for our pets,
for many, it is terrifying.

Next up, the Fireworks!
We would like to think that our pets would enjoy sitting outside and watching the fireworks with us under a beautiful night sky... This, however, is not always the case. May dogs become frightened by the flashes of light and loud booms. The number of lost pets rises 30% around the 4th of July, and on average, only 14% are returned to their owners... Don't let your pet be a statistic!

Some Basic Precautions should be taken to protect your pet.

1. Have a Visible ID Tag - make sure the ID tag has your name, your pet's name, your phone number, and other identifying information on it. Make sure the tag is well secured to a strong and durable collar (no chewed marks, no frays).
2. Get a MicroChip - A vet or shelter can chip your pet. It is a very quick procedure, minimal pain (like that of a shot) and it is a permanent way to have your pet identified, even if there is no collar on them (or if someone steals your dog). Make sure the information associated with the chip is up to date and the phone number is correct.
3. Bring Them Inside - A panicked pet will find a way out of a yard. It is safer to have your pet inside in a safe and secure location, than outside with all the noise of fireworks.
4. Have a Kennel - I understand many people do not want to crate their pets, however, when a pet is scared they may chew, dig, bark, and bolt. Protect your pet and your home by having a crate ready if things get intense. You can put a blanket/towel and some toys in if that helps.  If you have company over who will be coming in and out of the house, a Kennel can ensure your dog doesn't slip through a door.

What can you do to help a frightened pet feel safe?

If you know your dog is afraid of thunder or fireworks, there are a few options to Help Them Cope With Their Fears. 

1. Play Calming Music - I have a CD of classical piano music which I take on every dog transport for the same reason you should have it for the 4th of July: it is calming, and can drone out other noise. You can get a cheap one at Walmart or a dollar store. You could also turn on the TV (there are music channels too!) or use a white noise machine.
2. Medication - If you know your dog has some serious issues with anxiety, talk to your vet. They might be able to prescribe a sedative which can help your pup calm down and not get too upset.
3. ThunderShirt - A ThunderShirt uses compression to calm pups and several people have reported success with it. You can get them at some pet stores and at Bed Bath and Beyond.
4. Relaxing Treats - More and more often there are treats on the market similar to Blue Tranquility Treats which contain relaxing ingredients like lavender and chamomile. I have an 80lb dog and 1/2 a treat takes the edge off, a whole one knocks her out. If you have a small dog, start with a small piece (like a 1/4 of a treat).  There are other brands, but make sure they have a good track record. Many chicken treats have been linked to salmonella issues.
5. Thinking Toys - These will keep your pet busy and distracted. You can hit them with a double whammy by putting the relaxing treats in the toys. We have a Kong Wobbler and it keeps our girl intensely busy.
6. Use Your Voice - You are often a source of security for your pet. Talk to them calmly.
7. Act Natural - If you freak out, your pet will freak out. Be your normal self, and possibly even play with your pet to make the noisy time more positive. Remember, Safety First.
8. Hide It - Close the blinds and doors so your pet can't see the outside. Sometimes it is simply "out of sight out of mind." Also, if there is a part of the house which is more insulated from the sound, let them stay there.
9. Go "Dog Counselor" on Your Dog - You can work on desensitizing your dog to the sound of fireworks. Get a good recording of a firework show and play it softly at first while your dog gets to eat, play, etc. Slowly increase the volume over time until your dog is accustom to the sounds.

A little planning can go a long way. Bellow is an info-graphic about how the days surrounding the 4th can affect the pet population and shelters. Don't let your best friend become a statistic.  

By getting your pet and home ready you can make sure the 4th is a safe an happy time 

for everyone in the family.

Photo/Image Credit to PetAmberAlert.com

Resources

1. PetAmberAlert.com: July 4th Fireworks – Keeping Your Pet Safe
2. PRWeb: More Pets Are Lost on July 4th Than Any Other Time; What To Do  
3. American Kennel Club: Pet-Friendly Fourth Of July Tips  
4. Cesar’s Tips: Fourth of July 
5. Dogster: Poisonous Plants and Foods for Dogs 
6. Kong: Interactive Dog Toys 
7. ThunderShirt 
8. Romp Italian Greyhound Rescue Chicago: Homemade Dog treats 
9. Created By Diane: Pets 
10. BLUE Tranquility Tasty Chicken Natural Jerky Dog Treat 
11. Google Images

"I couldn't do what you do!"

"I couldn't do what you do" - Those 6 words (or 7 words) are something I hear on a regular basis. My friends, family, and others in rescue have all said this at some point... -Heck I've said it. I Love doing transport, but I couldn't be a foster (yet); partly because of my living situation and partly because I get attached too easily.

In the beginning, as a transporter, I got VERY attached to each little transportee. I loved Buddy, barely let go of Popcorn, and Mosey... Oh Mosey I could have kidnapped her, Precious! An Joey? Heck he had nothing when he came on transport so I bought him the blue collar and leash you see in his pictures.

I got into transporting because I couldn't have a dog. I stuck with it after getting a dog because I loved it too much to let it go.

Too often I hear people who are hesitant to help with rescue because it can be painful, and they're right. For all the happy stories we have, there are just as many stories where we were too late, or couldn't get transport, or got the pup and then couldn't save them due to health issues. Even just being a transporter I got attached. On a transport I assisted with I ran in to Charlotte and Katie. Charlotte had 5 babies and Katie was secretly smuggling 9 more.

#7 of 9 - had a tiny white heart mark right on her butt.

The first dog we ever lost (of the ones I helped with) was one of Katie's nine babies... little number 7. She was only about a week old and had a little heart mark on her back. It was like God knew she'd need a little extra help. She had a cleft palate that didn't allow her to eat effectively and surgery at such a young age could be life threatening. We let her go at only a week old so she wouldn't suffer. I cried like a baby. She only had 7 days of life, how is that fair!? I was mad, not at rescue and not at the decision, but mad that things like this happen.

 

Then there was Charlotte's baby girl, Brie. She was being spayed so she could go to her forever home (who were so excited about having her home). I had helped carry her to her transport car and took pictures and videos of her. Precious! ...Brie never woke up from the anesthesia...   Everything went fine in surgery, the anesthesia just never wore off... she reacted badly and passed quietly in her sleep. She had survived a shelter, a long transport, a second shorter one, and surgery ... she had a home and a sweet family waiting for her... and she just slipped away... Losing Brie was almost harder than losing #7 because I'd held her when she was just a wiggly grunting baby. Again, the hurt and the anger- how do things like this happen!?

Well, it took a while for me to come to terms with this, but here is the fact of the matter. For the week 7 lived she was loved like none other and we fought for her as long as she had the will to live, and when she didn't, we let her go so she didn't have to suffer and slowly starve to death (the fate she would have faced without help). And Brie? She was loved by many and her loss was out of anyone's hands. There was no "choice" to let her go, she just went. It is a fact of life that anyone who owns or cares for any living being faces every day. Without our help Katie and Charlotte and those pups would likely be dead. So we lost 2 but saved 15. It doesn't make the loss of the 2 hurt less, but the joy of the 15 (now all in loving homes and doing well) helps heal the wound.

That's the thing about rescue. It can be a very fragile act, and have heart wrenching consequences. You can do you absolute best and still lose. Heck, it wasn't until Bart was in the car with me that we realized how sick he was, and as I floored it to our vet.

I knew his Parvo test would probably be positive, and that meant that this sweet little collie puppy could die, possible before dawn, but I still talked sweetly to him and carried him close to my heart as we ran in to the vet because I knew as scared as I was and as sad as I was, HE was the one fighting for his life, and I was gonna do everything in my power to fight with him, and encourage him to keep on fighting. I won't lie, I still cried when I heard the test was positive, and slept poorly until I heard he'd made it through the night, but all of that is part of rescue.

Bart Lived. He kicked Parvo's butt and Pneumonia too! He is now huge and stunning! His success story makes the losses and yes, sometimes the returns, easier to deal with.

Before

After

Then there was Courage, who came in with Katie, Charlotte, (all the pups), and Madigan. He was so sick, and tired, and scared that he just quit on us.

He lay down in the dirt, clinging to the earth, and refused to move. It was as if he just said, "That's it, life sucks and I am resigned to just stay here and die." Heck I carried him to the car too and he kicked me in the face as if he were kicking and screaming "No! Put me back down! Just let me die already!"

Well we're not called "rescue" because we're in the business of quitting and thank God for that, Courage is now Captain Courage and enjoys boating on the weekend!


So am I saying "Heck yes, anyone can do what I do, and MORE!" Well, No. Transporting isn't for everyone. You see a lot of dogs and do a small service for each. Maybe you need a more involved step, like foster, or a less involved step, like event planning or just volunteering as a weekend walker or even a cross poster who posts shelter dogs pages to rescue pages which might be interested. Maybe you simply have some supplies that a rescue might be able to use (dog supplies, office supplies, or cleaning supplies for example). There are plenty of jobs that rescues need help with.

Here are two links that give examples of how you can help:

• How You Can Help 
• Volunteering 101 

So maybe your right and couldn't do what I do. That doesn't mean you can't work in rescue. And yes, it can be heart breaking, but the joy of the happy endings is SO worth it. For example, although I have told you 2 stories which ended in losing a dog, I have transported 53 dogs (not counting the assists) and all are in happy forever homes. It is worth it, THEY are worth it, and without rescues and adopters, all of them wouldn't be here today.

So next time, before you say "I couldn't do what you do" consider this, 

If you can't do what that person does, what can you do?