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dachshund sausage dog waving a flag of usa and victory or peace fingers on independence day 4th of july, banner or placard blackboard to the side

5 Steps: Making this 4th a Peaceful One

Independence Day . . . the 4th of July. BBQ. Horseshoes. Poolside lounging. It’s all fun and games until the fireworks hit and many of our pets go into fight or flight mode . . .

Though this day comes around every year, without fail our community, the Ojai Valley, struggles to calm our fearful fur-kids and act desperately to reunite lost loved ones with their families. Here are 5 steps to help us enjoy the holiday by being pro-active with our critters. 

  1. CONTACT INFO: ID Tags and Microchip Info should all be up to date. This is the easiest and most efficient way to ensure your pet is returned to you if he or she happens to escape. Double checking the contact information on their tag or collar and making sure it’s secure is a good precaution to take.
  2. EXERCISE: Spend the day outdoors with your pup, walking, running, playing, swimming! A tired pup is a calm pup is a happy pup. And what better way to spend the day? 
  3. SAFETY FIRST: Bring anxious pets indoors before fireworks and festivities begin for their safety. Keep in mind that pets have been known to jump through windows and chew through doors in fear of the loud noises. A comfy crate with a yummy treat filled Kong or other favorite chew would be a wise choice.
  4. BRING THE NOISE: To help mask the loud booms, turn on the air filter (we all have one–thanks #ThomasFire!), play some music, or turn on the TV for your little ones. Dogs are able to hear noises from four times the distance of a person with average hearing capabilities–those fireworks are loud for us, imagine how it is for them!
  5. REUNITE: We can’t avoid the inevitable: escapees. If you find a pet on the loose, don’t panic! Frightened and lost, they may not react positively to your attempting to help. DO NOT CHASE THEM. Try gently luring them with treats and a soft voice, then check for a collar with tags/contact information. Nervous animals are always best approached from the side, facing the same direction they are, slow and low. If no ID can be found, please safely transport them to the Humane Society of Ventura County or Ventura County Animal Services in Camarillo. In case the pup won’t cooperate or you feel it’s unsafe to proceed, take a photo so you can post online to our local Facebook pages such as Ojai Valley Animal Lost & FoundOjai Missing Pets, or Ventura County Missing Pets. (Pro Tip: always carry a spare leash with you just in case!)

For those harder to catch cases, one of our Ojai community members, Jennifer Kusch of Tigger’s Angel Paws, is putting together a task force to help reunite these lost pets with their loved ones on this special holiday. She’s gathering traps, printing generic flyers, and preparing a volunteer team of gentle spirits to get out and help guide these kiddos home. She’ll need a brave team to help locate the pets, knock on doors, and hand out/post flyers. If you’re up to the task and would like to join forces with her and a team of helpers, she can be reached at 805.535.5012.

Now you’re prepared–enjoy! For those of you who are away, The Peaceful Pup team is looking forward to spending a safe and peaceful 4th with your fur kiddos. Greta the Redbone Coonhound says: “Fireworks are soooo overrated. Netflix and chill –that’s how we roll. ;^)”

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