Keep Your Pets Safe as Fireworks Boom

    No matter how much you like fireworks, your dogs — and maybe cats — are not looking forward to the July 4th tradition. All the festivities, lights and loud noises can frighten and even threaten your furry friends.
    Phantom Fireworks, a rapidly expanding fireworks retailer supplying the explosives to national chains, knows the down- as well as the upside of fireworks. From its research come suggestions on how you can help your pet endure the celebration.
    Consult with your veterinarian before fireworks season on behavior modification techniques or sedation.
    Designate a pet sitter to stay in with your pets, keep them calm and support them.
    Prepare a comfortable area where your pet will feel safe. If you feed your pet in this area, it will be associated with good things.
    Walk or exercise your pets before the fireworks to tire them out so they might sleep instead of shiver.
    Keep your pets indoors when fireworks are shot.
    Add soothing noises to a comfortable area to hide the firework booms.
    Close all windows and doors and block pet doors to prevent escapes.
    Turn on the TV or radio and air conditioning to help mask the noise of the fireworks.
    Distract your pet as soon as the fireworks begin so that their focus is on something else.