Halloween can be a lot of fun, but it can also be very scary for dogs. According to Liam Crowe, the CEO and master dog behavioral therapist of Bark Busters USA, Halloween is when they hear about more dogs dying or straying than any other holiday.

I would never have guessed that, but it makes sense when you think about it. There’s usually a lot more accessible chocolate candy in the house for dogs to get into, the result of which can be deadly. Plus, the overabundance of loud noises and door bell ringing can set off a dogs flight instinct.

As pet owners we can keep a few simple things in mind to make Halloween a fun and safe holiday for all our four legged friends.

1. Don’t leave your dog outside. Even if you have a fenced yard, bring your dog inside where it is safe. If your dog is usually kept outside, bring him in a few times before the big night to get him used to being indoors. Your dog may be used to strangers, but so many little ghouls and goblins running about may be too much. Remember also that it is a natural instinct for dogs to protect the family from strangers, and on Halloween there will be no shortage of strangers.

2. Keep your dog restrained. If your dog is timid or scared, or if he tends to love people a little too much, it is best to put him in a separate room away from the front door to limit his excitability, aggression, and chance of running outside and becoming lost.

3. Reassure your dog. The best thing you can do for your dog when he is feeling unsettled by Halloween activities is to act as you normally would. By over-reassuring your dog or giving him an unusual amount of attention, you inadvertently can communicate to him that because you are acting differently, there must be something to worry about. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Fourth of July is coming up and everyone is looking forward to a long weekend of fun and fireworks. Unfortunately, sometimes we forget what’s enjoyable for us isn’t for our four-legged pals and without proper precautions this can lead to tragedy.

The  HSUS site shares the sad story of the Moores’ family. They had gone out for a few hours and their dog, D.O.G., panicked because of the fireworks. Somehow she opened the sliding glass door and got out of the house.  D.O.G. then escaped the yard and ultimately ended up getting hit and killed by a car.

If you prepare before the festivities begin you can prevent a tragedy like the Moores experienced from happening to you.

Fortunately, preventing pet problems on Independence Day is possible by simply planning ahead and taking some basic precautions.

“With a little bit of planning and forethought, you can enjoy the excitement of the Fourth of July and know that your animal companion is safe, sound, and enjoying a little peace and quiet,” said Nancy Peterson, an issues specialist with The Humane Society if the United States.

To protect your pet on the Fourth of July, take these precautions:

* Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.

* Do not leave your pet in the car. With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects-even death-in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but they do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.

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Tomorrow is the 10th annual Take Your Dog to Work Day, dog owners are encouraged to bring their pups with them to the office. This isn’t really an official holiday so before you pack Fido’s lunch bag you may want to check with your boss.

The day “was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption” by letting nonowners witness the bond between dog and man, says a Web site promoting the occasion.

“In today’s economy, pet adoption is the most eco-friendly and budget-conscious option for finding your next four-legged best friend,” said Patti Moran, president of Pet Sitters International, which came up with the event.

Thousands of small and midsize companies are expected to participate, said Moran, as well as some large ones, like Johnson & Johnson and Disney.

New Yorkers who’ve done it in past years say the day’s great fun – so much fun, in fact, that a few have even taken to doing it much more often.

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As those of us in America celebrate our country’s independence today, we need to be cognizant of the effect  fireworks have on our beloved pets. The newspaper Deseret has a good article on the subject.  Here’s an interesting tidbit on the effect of the loud booms and bangs that I never considered.

In most normal five-day stretches during the summer last year, his shelter would pick up about 66 stray cats and 70 stray dogs. But he said that in the five days surrounding July 4, it picked up 90 cats and 95 dogs – or 36 percent more than normal. “We always see big increases around July Fourth, and the same thing happens again around the 24th,” he said, adding that other cities in the county and state report the same.

It makes sense that dogs and cats would try to get away from all that noise. Fortunately the article also give advice on how to minimize their anxiety.

Doug Poindexter, president of the World Wide Pet Industry Association, said, “There are number of tips we have to try and help minimize stress by pets. First, bring your pets inside. Keep them in a room that is as sound resistant as possible” and then play music or the television there to drown out noise from fireworks.

Read the full article to find out all the tips they give and make this the calmest 4th for your pet ever.

Happy 4th of July!!

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As always, thanks to the Sunbear Squad for this helpful tip:

Watch for stray pets frightened by holiday fireworks—they may bolt through traffic or get lost.

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