With the Fourth of July just around the corner, if you are in the United States, you may be either dreading or looking forward to the impending fireworks. While fireworks aren’t great for our already fragile environment, they have been an important element of our national tradition and help to reinforce social connections for many. If you’re on team “dreading”, don’t fret too much; we’ve got you covered this year. We’ve got a couple of tips and tricks for helping not only your pets but also local wildlife this Independence Day.
Fireworks are beautiful to look at, but are they worth the toll they take on our already fragile environment? Traditional fireworks are filled with harmful chemicals mixed with additional mineral elements that provide color. Once the fireworks explode, this mix of chemicals is then released into our environment and our atmosphere. Fireworks release “a host of contaminants that affect air quality and can contribute to climate change, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter.”
As the Communications Fellow at OneNature, it probably isn’t surprising that I love animals. I have two dogs, one 11-year-old who is absolutely terrified of loud noises and one 4-year-old who gets annoyed by his scared older sister. So, this Fourth of July, you’ll find us in our basement utilizing the tips outlined below to stay cool, calm, and collected.
Ways to support your pets this 4th of July
Music or TV
Calming music is the easiest trick to calming your furry friend. Not only does it provide something for them to focus on, other than the loud fireworks, it’s actually proven to be therapeutic. There’s an entire field of study known as bioacoustics that focuses on how animals perceive sound. A study done by psychologist Dr. Lori Kogan found that “dogs exposed to classical music spent more time sleeping and less time barking.”
There are lots of free music streaming services you can access with a simple wifi connection. Take Spotify, for example, a music streaming service that offers a tool that allows you to create a playlist for your pet based on their personality traits. Do some tests with your pets in the coming days and see what music they seem to react best to.
TV is another great way to create some ambient noise for your pets while also keeping them mentally stimulated. The constantly moving visuals help give them something to focus their eyes on, and the sound helps give them something to focus their ears on. You can search for free videos on Youtube, or you can subscribe to one of the numerous streaming services created for dogs, like DOGTV or Amazon’s Pet Channel.
Create a ‘safe haven’ for your pets away from loud noises
Many experts in this field recommend creating a safe space for your pet where they can feel safe and comfortable. Ideally, this space should be far from any windows or doors to the outside, minimizing noise exposure.
For me, I set up an old -very large- crate for my small dog to seek shelter in. I covered the inside with fluffy blankets, pillows, and toys. I also covered the outside with another blanket to block out noise and light, and placed the crate in my basement. For the past two weeks, we’ve been spending some time down there, getting her more comfortable with the crate and establishing it’s a place of comfort and safety. It’s never too late to establish a similar space for your pet; if you get started now, you’ll be good to go by next week!
Keep your doggy doors, low windows, doors, etc. closed
A survey done by ASPCA found that “Nearly one-in-five lost pets goes missing after being scared by the sound of fireworks, thunderstorms or other loud noises…” The last thing anyone wants is a missing pet, so make sure you keep your pets inside this Fourth of July. If they need to go outside, try taking them out on a leash or make sure they’re in a fenced-in area.
Expel energy early in the day
A good trick for a calm pet before a big event is to get most of their energy out earlier on in the day. If I’m expecting people over later in the day, I’ll be sure to take my dogs out for a long walk in the morning and once more before my guests are expected to arrive. Getting them out and active during the daylight hours lowers the chance of them being outside while fireworks are set off. It also tires them out, so they’re more likely to fall asleep instead of stress about the loud noises.
Lots of love and cuddles
Finally, the last and most important tip of all is to give your pet extra love and attention. Let them know you’re there for them and that they’ll be okay.
We at OneNature wish you all a happy and safe Independence Day!
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Image by: Martin Castro via Unsplash.