People Are Skipping 4th Of July Fireworks To Comfort Scared Shelter Dogs
Just like New Year’s, July 4 isn’t exactly a holiday for most pups. In fact, fireworks and other loud noises can even make it a nightmare. And, while our family furballs have the commodity of hiding under the bed, shelter dogs aren’t so lucky. However, one shelter came up with a brilliant idea to help these homeless pups relax through the blasting holiday.
“When they have these noise phobias, it’s horrible,” noted veterinarian Marty Becker said. “A lot of times these dogs will self-mutilate. I’ve had dogs come in that have run through a plate-glass window. They think they’re going to die, and when you think you’re going to die, you do crazy things.”
Image credits: Wesley Nitsckie
“Calming the Canines,” at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC), is a new Independence Day tradition — and it’s proving that nothing is as patriotic as kindness
Image credits: maricopa
Last year, over 300 local community members showed up at the shelter’s two locations around Phoenix, Arizona to comfort the scared dogs.
“It was overwhelming to see how the community responded,” Ben Swan, the shelter’s development director, said in a press release. “It really helped spread our message that MCACC is here to help.”
Image credits: maricopa
Amy Engel, who is in charge of the AZ Dawg Saverz Facebook page and attended Calming the Canines last year, said that she definitely plans on attending this year as well.
“Some people sang to them, some people read to them, some people just sat there and gave treats!” Engel wrote. “It was so, so awesome because the dogs absolutely love the attention and were focused on the people and not the fireworks going on outside.”
Image credits: maricopa
And it wasn’t just a one-time thing. After the event, people have developed a lasting bond with the dogs that they looked over.
“Many participants developed lasting relationships with the shelter, returning to provide foster care, adopt a pet or volunteer,” the MCACC wrote.
This year, shelter staff hope that the kindness will spread even wider, and even more meaningful connections will be made.
Image credits: maricopa
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I wish people were allowed into the cages where the children are, to comfort them :( I love that this program exists and I'm not denigrating it in the slightest, but seeing the cages in the pics reminded me very unpleasantly of all the pics we've see of kids in similar pens and there's no one to comfort them at all :(
I think the risk is too big. A scared dog may bite, scared cat may claw and if people get bitten/scratched, the shelter may get a bad name or be sued.. It is the US, after all.
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Why can’t the volunteers sit in the enclosures with the dogs and stroke or cuddle them, I would think the physical contact would also help.
Probably too risky. Unfamiliar people and dog, who knows what they might do when scared.
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I read somewhere that every 13 seconds a cat or dog is euthanized in the US because of lack of interest for adoption. A total of 3 and more million animals are put to sleep because of our carelessness. Please, neuture or spay your dogs. And this comes from a poor East European country...
It's nice that they did this but how many of those dogs went home with them and how many were eventually put to sleep. Our dog was a rescue - fireworks don't bother her. New Year's Day she slept through everything.
I really think silent fireworks should exist (and if they already exist, they should be more common). They look pretty, but won't frighten every dog in the neighborhood. (Also, yesterday at around midnight people were still firing off fireworks.. I was trying to sleep..)
It’s a great idea and outdoors in Mauricio’s County in July is usually pretty unbearably hot, so more comfortable for the humans too!
Fireworks, many get excited for the beauty, however, I wonder about some children as well as animals, I heard, or read that some body talked about creating fireworks without noise, would be fantastic, until then, bless all who help at the shelters !!!
It's a very thoughtful act, done by these groups of people. Most of the dogs are very afraid of the fireworks. Staying next to them in a moment of fiery situation is priceless. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU KINDER SPIRITED SOULS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO STAY NEXT TO THEM & MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE....
My Uncles dog, Buster, not only hated fireworks, he also was afraid of thunder. We live in an area where the thunder gets loud. So every time thunderstorms came through, Buster would go to the centermost part of the house and refused to move for anyone. My uncle would accommodate him by bringing his blanket, water and food bowl to him and giving him a toy or chew bone to work his anxiety out on. He'd also turn the tv to a western or Animal Planet since that's the only things Buster would watch. Sad to say we lost the poor little guy over a year ago to cancer.
With every year that goes by I feel more strongly about fireworks, and that the noisy, airborne ones should be completely outlawed in this country apart from I GUESS official town/city displays. They're noisy, disruptive, and upset both humans and animals in huge quantities. The airborne ones are illegal here in NY state, but it doesn't stop people from hopping over into Pennsylvania to buy them anyway, and do stupid things like set them off directly over Route 209 when we're under a mile away from a state police station, or in a parking lot just up the street just this evening (July 6th). Our older dog, who is sensitive to yelling, thunderstorms, passing trucks or motorcycles, and (of course) fireworks has been a nervous wreck since summer started. We have a knockoff Thundershirt for him that helps a little, and calming treats that work a little, but he still paces and digs and pants and worries. I love that people are doing this in shelters, but I'd rather they just not do fireworks.
This is such a thoughtful initiative and I didn't know about it in time! I would've gone there.
I love this. It's surely about time to make fireworks about just how beautiful they are and NOT about an unnecessary loud bang! I am so happy that these shelter animals are being helped but it doesn't stop wildlife and farm animals being terrified. Also, if you don't care about animals what about ex-military personnel with PTSD? Tiny children who are too young to understand? If you think a loud bang is more important than the fact that it can strike fear into the hearts of living creatures then you've got your priorities completely skewed.
I agree with everything you've said. These dogs may be a little less scared because there are people with them, but it by no means stops them from being scared. My dog is with us all the time when there are fireworks and we can't do much to help him. The only thing that really works for him is turning loud music on right next to his head so he can hear nothing but that. We have to ban fireworks!
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Last night, 3 July is a very heavy firecracker night where I live, meaning folks setting them off on their properties. Around 1 AM, a huge barrage of FCs went off, and at the same time, I could hear all the doggos in the neighborhood crying. I never got back to sleep. Tonight the municipal fireworks go off and thankfully we can't hear them where I am. But the neighbors will be out with their own. Another night of doggo nightmares.
I wish people were allowed into the cages where the children are, to comfort them :( I love that this program exists and I'm not denigrating it in the slightest, but seeing the cages in the pics reminded me very unpleasantly of all the pics we've see of kids in similar pens and there's no one to comfort them at all :(
I think the risk is too big. A scared dog may bite, scared cat may claw and if people get bitten/scratched, the shelter may get a bad name or be sued.. It is the US, after all.
Load More Replies... Why can’t the volunteers sit in the enclosures with the dogs and stroke or cuddle them, I would think the physical contact would also help.
Probably too risky. Unfamiliar people and dog, who knows what they might do when scared.
Load More Replies... I read somewhere that every 13 seconds a cat or dog is euthanized in the US because of lack of interest for adoption. A total of 3 and more million animals are put to sleep because of our carelessness. Please, neuture or spay your dogs. And this comes from a poor East European country...
It's nice that they did this but how many of those dogs went home with them and how many were eventually put to sleep. Our dog was a rescue - fireworks don't bother her. New Year's Day she slept through everything.
I really think silent fireworks should exist (and if they already exist, they should be more common). They look pretty, but won't frighten every dog in the neighborhood. (Also, yesterday at around midnight people were still firing off fireworks.. I was trying to sleep..)
It’s a great idea and outdoors in Mauricio’s County in July is usually pretty unbearably hot, so more comfortable for the humans too!
Fireworks, many get excited for the beauty, however, I wonder about some children as well as animals, I heard, or read that some body talked about creating fireworks without noise, would be fantastic, until then, bless all who help at the shelters !!!
It's a very thoughtful act, done by these groups of people. Most of the dogs are very afraid of the fireworks. Staying next to them in a moment of fiery situation is priceless. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU KINDER SPIRITED SOULS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO STAY NEXT TO THEM & MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE....
My Uncles dog, Buster, not only hated fireworks, he also was afraid of thunder. We live in an area where the thunder gets loud. So every time thunderstorms came through, Buster would go to the centermost part of the house and refused to move for anyone. My uncle would accommodate him by bringing his blanket, water and food bowl to him and giving him a toy or chew bone to work his anxiety out on. He'd also turn the tv to a western or Animal Planet since that's the only things Buster would watch. Sad to say we lost the poor little guy over a year ago to cancer.
With every year that goes by I feel more strongly about fireworks, and that the noisy, airborne ones should be completely outlawed in this country apart from I GUESS official town/city displays. They're noisy, disruptive, and upset both humans and animals in huge quantities. The airborne ones are illegal here in NY state, but it doesn't stop people from hopping over into Pennsylvania to buy them anyway, and do stupid things like set them off directly over Route 209 when we're under a mile away from a state police station, or in a parking lot just up the street just this evening (July 6th). Our older dog, who is sensitive to yelling, thunderstorms, passing trucks or motorcycles, and (of course) fireworks has been a nervous wreck since summer started. We have a knockoff Thundershirt for him that helps a little, and calming treats that work a little, but he still paces and digs and pants and worries. I love that people are doing this in shelters, but I'd rather they just not do fireworks.
This is such a thoughtful initiative and I didn't know about it in time! I would've gone there.
I love this. It's surely about time to make fireworks about just how beautiful they are and NOT about an unnecessary loud bang! I am so happy that these shelter animals are being helped but it doesn't stop wildlife and farm animals being terrified. Also, if you don't care about animals what about ex-military personnel with PTSD? Tiny children who are too young to understand? If you think a loud bang is more important than the fact that it can strike fear into the hearts of living creatures then you've got your priorities completely skewed.
I agree with everything you've said. These dogs may be a little less scared because there are people with them, but it by no means stops them from being scared. My dog is with us all the time when there are fireworks and we can't do much to help him. The only thing that really works for him is turning loud music on right next to his head so he can hear nothing but that. We have to ban fireworks!
Load More Replies... Last night, 3 July is a very heavy firecracker night where I live, meaning folks setting them off on their properties. Around 1 AM, a huge barrage of FCs went off, and at the same time, I could hear all the doggos in the neighborhood crying. I never got back to sleep. Tonight the municipal fireworks go off and thankfully we can't hear them where I am. But the neighbors will be out with their own. Another night of doggo nightmares.
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