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Summer Holiday Safety

© Lesli Richardson

Summer is traditionally a time for sharing food, fun, and frolicking with friends and family. Many people want to include Fido in this mix, but there are times when you need to realize it's best to leave your furry friends home.

The Fourth of July is almost upon us. Animals have much more sensitive hearing than we do. Bring pets indoors and keep them isolated from the festivities in a dark, quiet room. Humans have enjoyed noisemakers, firecrackers, fireworks, and other pyrotechnics for centuries, but explain that to a dog who's terrified of thunder and lightning. Not to mention if you are going to light any fireworks at your house, your dogs don't understand safety rules and may get in the way, becoming seriously injured (or worse!).

If you plan on throwing a cook-out, once again bring animals inside and keep them isolated in a back room or crated to prevent them from escaping through an open door, eating something inappropriate, or getting cornered by small (and not-so-small) children who don't know how to act around an animal, creating a potential bite scenario. No matter how much of a "baby" your dog is to you, they still see the world through the black-and-white mindset of a dog. Food good, screaming child in face bad. They can't (and won't) appreciate the situation, so do your duty as a responsible pet owner and protect them.

When deciding to take your dog with you somewhere, first make sure that your dog is allowed and welcomed. Just because your Aunt Sally likes dogs doesn't mean she wants the extra worried of your Brutus at the family reunion. (Especially when she just put in new Berber carpeting.) If you take your dog out, keep it leashed at all times to prevent an escape.

And remember that not all dogs are natural-born swimmers. If you have a pool, you need to make it dog-proof as well as child-proof. Teach your dog where the exit points are and always supervise him whenever he's around it.

And of course, don't forget to keep an eye out for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Keep plenty of fresh, cool water available for your pets at all times. Don't use metal bowls (which absorb heat) and make sure that the bowls are in a shady place. Automatic waterers are great for outside, and you can even purchase ones that will screw onto a faucet. Watch your dog use it so you know he will actually be able to drink out of it, and check it daily to ensure it's working properly.

The copyright of the article Summer Holiday Safety in Dogs Etc. is owned by Lesli Richardson. Permission to republish Summer Holiday Safety in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.