TulsaPets Magazine May 2022

18 TulsaPets • May/June 2022 pletely destroy doors, woodwork, drywall, chain-link fencing, and anything else that confined her from the fireworks. Chips loved to hunt, and she was steadfast in keep- ing our pond and property free from water moccasins. However, on the Fourth of July, she was terrified of fireworks despite having been a trained hunting dog, certainly used to the sound of a shotgun. Indeed, on the Fourth of July, she became a terror on four legs when she heard the loud “ka-boom!” Chips began to pace and pant when guests filled our home for the Fourth, as though she knew the terror of the fireworks was soon to start. Perhaps she remembered the previous Fourth, when she had escaped her confinement, grabbed an ignited firework in her mouth, injured herself, and scared me speechless. I felt very sorry for her. After several failed attempts to confine Chips indoors, where she would be safe from injuring herself or property, Dad drove her to our friends’ home, away from the relentless “ka-boom!” Needless to say, Chips became a bundle of stress despite her high degree of loyalty and field training. Her fear stuck with me and provided one of the many sources of motivation for me to study animal behavior. Our group of cousins knew that the morning after the Fourth meant hook- ing up the trailer to our little riding lawn mower and picking up all our fireworks mess. Not only was it trash, it could be harmful to the animals’ environment. My parents made cleanup duty part of our well- thought-out plan, and no family member could skip that activity. We played hard and worked hard. Keep Your Pets Safe Animals do not enjoy fireworks. Although humans might like the star-spangled fire- works show, your dog does not appreciate the splendor. Dogs can hear and smell far better than humans. Dogs have 125 million to 375 million olfactory sensory cells, whereas humans have a mere 5 million to 10 million. Dogs can hear four times far- ther than humans. In addition, dogs have a far superior ability to detect high-frequency sounds, something humans altogether lack. Dogs have 18 specialized muscles in their ears which allow them to move in the di- rection of a sound. Those specialized senses create high sensitivity to sounds and smells. Fireworks provide a great deal of noise and smells. Dogs attempt to tell us they are miserable and not enjoying the Fourth of July experience, but most humans don’t understand how they communicate. Instead of taking your dogs to visit friends or leaving them in the backyard to watch fireworks, here are some alternatives and tips to help keep your pets safe. 1 Bring your pets inside and provide them a safe spot for security, calm, and peace. It is a great idea to establish a safe location in advance of fireworks or storms, enabling your dog to enjoy the area. Going to that safe spot can become a comfort cue for your dog, helping it to relax. Practice makes perfect. A room in the center of the house with limited windows is ideal. If there are windows in that area, close win- dow coverings to block your animal from watching fireworks or visitors. Turn on a TV, fan, white-noise machine, or music. Using “Through a Dog’s Ear” music can be calming for your pet. Box fans provide a very nice humming noise to help soften out- side noises. A favorite blanket, toys, and a KONG stuffed with canned and frozen dog food can keep dogs happy for longer periods of time. Plug in an Adaptil diffuser near your dog’s crate or bed. The dog-appeasing pheromones (DAPs) found in Adaptil are the pheromones that mother dogs secrete to calm their puppies. 2 Calming caps, anxiety wraps, Thunder- Shirts, Storm Defender capes, Doggles, Mutt Muffs, and eyeshades can help calm some dogs. 3 Do not take your dogs with you to a fireworks event. If you must take them, make sure they are leashed with collar and ID tags. Do not leave them in your car because July temperatures can quickly reach life-threatening levels. Provide your dogs with plenty of water and shade. Do not let go of them. 4 Microchip your dogs. Dogs that are frightened might run or try to escape and often can slip out of their collars. Microchips can be scanned at any vet or shelter, allowing you to locate your dog. If your dog becomes lost, contact your local animal shelter, put up “lost dog” signs, and share pictures and information on social media. Some sites are specifically intended for posting lost dogs in your area. 5 Padlock yard gates. Visitors might accidentally leave the gate unlatched, and your dog could escape without your knowledge. 6 Clean up all remnants of fireworks and picnics. Many of the chemicals used in fireworks, trash, and human food are toxic to animals. 7 Know your pet. Each one is different, possesses a unique personality, and re- sponds differently to behavior modification and calming agents. Your veterinarian can recommend prescriptions, over-the-counter products, and foods to help your pet be more comfortable during a stressful event. Many veterinarians and animal behaviorists believe it is inhumane to allow a dog or any animal to suffer with extreme fear and anx- iety. Medication can prevent the extreme responses that your dog can experience. July 5 is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters, with an intake increase of 50 percent to 60 percent. That is because frightened animals can become lost during fireworks displays. Make wonderful, lasting memories this holiday by considering your animals’ wel- fare in your planning. Offer Human Help As I brainstormed this piece, I had an epiphany. I have crossed some sort of life bridge. I am a grandmother, an Aunt Edna of sorts, sharing my life stories in the hope that they teach someone a new lesson. The truth is, I loved growing up in Broken Arrow. The family and friends who share my memories — many from the “pre-BA Expressway” era — are those who have embraced me throughout my life. We share a special bond — a love for our state and community. That bond is the root of many of the articles I have written. We have a personal responsibility to improve our animal communities. Our animal shelters and rescue organizations need our help — human help. The welfare of all animals is a human issue, not an animal issue. Happy tails, Karen Dugan Holman