Keep Your Pets Safe This Fourth of July
Pay special attention to your pets safety on the Forth of July!
Always keep you dogs and cats inside when fireworks are going off to avoid their nature to find a safe haven. Make certain your pets are walked prior to fireworks going off, close all windows and doors. Draw the curtains. Ensure your pets are wearing ID tags, even if in the house, as many animals are expert escape artists. Never leave your dog alone in a vehicle during the celebrations.
You can also prepare a den for your pets inside the house with blankets and pillows in a location they will feel safe.
Pets Safe – Now let’s talk a bit about companion parrots who have to endure this noisy holiday too.
Let me give you an example. Taco and I sit outside in the sunroom every evening after I’ve finished writing for the day during spring, summer, and fall. Over the past week (end of June first of July) the boom of fireworks are prevalent from early revelers. Taco is normally a fearless Eclectus. She’s learned the outside hawks can’t get to her through the glass of the sunroom. Thunder and lightning doesn’t bother her either, she’s been conditioned from an early age to understand there is nothing to fear. Now softball size hail falling is another story and a tale for another time. But, the sudden, unexplained noise from the fireworks has her flying off her perch and cowering on my shoulder. So we have to go inside during this time. Boo Hiss.
First we need to remember pet birds (unlike dogs and cats) are prey animals. They have evolved with their eyes on the side of their head, to enable them to spend long periods of their life looking over their shoulder. Some birds can even see better behind them than in front of them.
By nature, birds are neophobic, meaning they naturally want to retreat and avoid anything unfamiliar. By perceiving a new object or sound as a potential threat until proven otherwise, they increase their chances that they won’t end up as someone’s dinner!
This means birds and Parrots are constantly evaluating their environment and can become stressed much more easily than you may think.
Let’s consider some ways to help our pet birds and Parrot reduce the amount of stress, anxiety and fear they suffer with the loud booms, and sudden light displays.
Pets Safe – Tips for birds in the home…
Alternatively, cover any windows with blankets, to block out those sudden burst of light.
Covering the bird’s cage with a thick blanket can help muffle any loud noises, plus it helps make the bird feel more secure.
The use of white noise machines or having the TV or radio on a little louder than normal can help drown out the sudden noise of fireworks.
Please note, noise isn’t normally the problem, as Parrots are noisy by themselves, but the sudden sound of an unknown loud noise is what frightens them.
If bird(s) don’t live in a cage it may be wise to utilise a travel cage. Even Parrots who have had their wings clipped have been known to fly off when scared which could cause injury!
Some pet bird owners have been known to play recordings of random noise, including those of fireworks to their birds – be it in the home or those outside in an aviary before firework season begins. The idea is that they eventually learn that unknown noises won’t harm them.
After the celebrations are over, make sure to check your yard any pick up any debris from the spent fireworks or maybe those that didn’t go off. These are harmful to your pet should they chew or ingest these items!
Most importantly in keeping pets safe: NEVER TAKE YOUR PET TO A FIREWORKS DISPLAY!
The American Veterinary Medical Association and AKC have more safety tips. Check them out. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog, My Say What Blog and tagged 4th of July parrot safety tips, FIreworks, fourth of July, Keep Your Pets Safe This Fourth of July, loud booms, Pet Safety tips, Stay Safe by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
