by Karen Dugan Holman, B.S., B.S.E., M.S.
When I was growing up in rural Broken Arrow, Fourth of July
celebrations were full of life lessons and lasting memories. I not only learned from my mother how to prepare a meal for 50 people with love and joy, my father also instilled in me the hard work and dedication necessary to accomplish anything worthwhile. But things can still go wrong, and animals and fireworks are not a good combination.
All year long, my cousins, sisters, and I brainstormed to devise a plan to spend our “chore” money on the greatest fireworks spectacle imaginable. We invited family and friends and worked hard to set up our house for the grand Fourth of July festivities.
We had a plan, a very organized plan, which was crucial for a safe, smooth-sailing fireworks display. We mowed the grass very
short and watered it as much as possible to prevent a spark from developing into a fullblown grass fire. We perfectly aligned the tables with the pond, enabling our fireworks to offer reflection on the water. We wanted to have our display close enough to the patio for all of our family and friends to enjoy but far enough away to be safe. We had buckets and the garden hose ready in case of a fire. We would play Marco Polo for hours in the pool, eating several times while anticipating the dark to come. The wait was grueling.
Never Forget Those Special Fourths
Most years, everything would go without a hitch, but there are always those special memories. There was the time we watched a tree go “poof” when a parachute firework slowly drifted with the south wind and nestled inside the drought-ridden loblolly pine.
We watched in amazement at the speed of the “poof” as we held our buckets and hose.
None of us can forget the whistling chaser that flew with lightning speed across the patio and right up Aunt Edna’s dress, leaving a lovely scar on her leg to prove it had happened. It was truly amazing and quite humorous until we realized she wasn’t laughing, and neither were our parents. I never remember Aunt Edna in shorts. Wearing a dress was much cooler in the Oklahoma summer than pants, providing a path of no resistance up her poor leg. I think whistling chasers are outlawed now. There must have been other innocent victims in their paths over the years.
Then there was Chips, our sweet dog Chips.
Fourth of July is when I first witnessed a well-trained, mild-mannered dog completely 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 keeping 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 hooking 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 wellthought-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 fireworks 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 farther 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 direction 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 window 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 outside 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, ThunderShirts, 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 responds 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 anxiety. 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’ welfare 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
