Take extra safe care of your dogs this 4th of July holiday.

[procon]

My good girl is terrified of loud sounds and noises, so thunder, gunshots and fireworks, and we get it all, freak her out to the point of panic. She ran off, actually climbed over the chainlink fence in her fear, after hearing gunshots on New Years Eve a few years back and was lost for almost 4 weeks.

I feared she was dead. I live way out in the country and stray dogs get shot or hit by cars, amazingly some kind soul remembered her from seeing a fryer I posted and he called to say she was at his house and secured inside his gate.

I was shocked and screaming hysterically happy as we drove to get her, 4 miles from home. I wept, it was like seeing someone come back from the dead, and she practically was, all skin and bones, but happy to see her people again.

So make sure your dogs, even if they aren't normally scared, are safe inside from dusk to dawn. Those Thundershirts really work, I loaned mine to my sis and it never came back home, so I put my pupper in an old sweatshirt for comfort at least. If you need to take your dog out for a potty break, don't go out without a strong leash and escape proof collar.

Give them a secure spot like their bed or crate, add a blanket to hide under, a fave toy, and place it in a quiet area. If they want to cling to you, a reassuring cuddle will make you both feel better. My dog wants to hide in under our bed, but shes a giant breed and too big to fit more than her head. I fold up some rugs and drape a blanket off the footboard like a tent, so that seems to work for her.

Take care of your dogs, and all your other critters, keep safe everyone!

[Rorey]

1. Fireworks are banned here

So I'm expecting the usual activity, because idiots think they're above the law. I'm hoping for a nice long rain.

[Coleman]

2. Luckily my dog is deaf

But the compression waves and flashes of light startle him. He's a rescue we adopted. Nothing is known about his past, except he was surrendered to a county shelter where he stayed 3 months until a volunteer for the FL Golden Retriever Rescue talked them into taking him (he isn't a Golden, he's a black straight hair retriever) and they gave him to us. He is great, but you don't want to startle him. He doesn't take it well. Hates lightening flashes and the shock waves from thunder.

[Doreen]

3. Do not forget kitties. They have the same reactions.

[demigoddess]

4. our indoor cat just ran in off the deck because of a boom. she's allowed on the deck because

it is way up and you can't get off it.

[Doreen]

5. I have had cats who freak and ones who who don't.

I really feel for the ones that get freaked.

[CountAllVotes]

6. My late Sheltie was terrified of fireworks

I'll admit it, I slipped him abt. 1 mg. of Valium to calm him down.

This was several years ago (he died in 2006). It helped A LOT!

It disgusts me that we have to go through this all of the time -- New Year's etc.

I really dislike fireworks!!!!