Every year I worry about our precious dogs who are at the mercy of their human families during firework celebrations.

Deaf dogs, too, often suffer from vibrations, flashing lights, and high pitches of fireworks. What’s fun and entertaining for humans is not necessarily fun for our deaf dogs. Add to the commotion, dogs are often left alone to suffer in fear, not knowing why and what is occurring.

I am sharing the article provided by iHeart because I wholeheartedly believe that we MUST take every precaution possible to safeguard our dogs, hearing and deaf dogs, and provide for their calm environment.

The 4th of July is a fun celebration for humans, but for dogs, it often feels like it’s the end of the world. While we’re attending parties, our poor canines are left to hide under the bed alone. As if that isn’t sad enough, the 4th of July is also the time of year that most pets go missing. So, it’s time for us to make our furry friends a priority this holiday.

Here are nine tips to help you keep your canine calm and safe during the 4th of July.

#1 – Keep Your Dog Away From the Chaos

Dogs usually like to be a part of things, but the 4th of July is one holiday they won’t mind missing. Instead of bringing them to crowded, noisy celebrations, it’s better to leave them home. Not only will loud fireworks scare them off, but there could be a lot of unhealthy food and other substances falling on the ground. Unfamiliar objects could be hazardous for your dog if they consume them. So, it’s best to keep your dog in a quiet, comfortable space that’s far away from the chaos.

#2 – Stay with Them if Possible

You probably don’t want to miss out on the excitement of this holiday, but you staying home might be the best thing for your furry friend. Having someone familiar around to comfort them could ease their anxiety. If you act calm around your dog, they’re more likely to feel relaxed as a result. If you are unable to stay home that night, consider letting someone your dog trusts stay with them.

#3 – Make Sure Their ID is Up to Date

Even the best-behaved dogs could go missing on the 4th of July. If a dog gets spooked, they might keep running until they’re far away from the scary sound. So, it’s a good idea to prepare for the worst in this scenario. If your dog is wearing a collar with identification tags, along with an up-to-date microchip, it’ll be much easier for someone to bring them back to you if they’re found. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your loved one’s life.

#4 – Set Up a Quiet Space

If you usually leave your dog in the main room while you’re gone, you might need to switch it up. Find the quietest, most sound-proof room in your home and keep your dog there. Also, make sure the space you keep them in is secure, so they can’t sneak out. If your home is too close to local fireworks, consider having them stay at a friend’s house if it’s more peaceful. The quieter the fireworks are, the less likely your dog will try to escape.

#5 – Take Advantage of White Noise

Once you find a quiet space for your dog, you can use white noise to drown out the fireworks even further. Turn on a radio, TV, or fan near your dog. Certain music genres can even have calming effects for dogs. So, take advantage of some white noise to distract your pup from the unusual sounds outside.

#6 – Exercise Them Beforehand

While it’s still light outside, you should exercise your dog as much as possible. Take them for a long walk to tucker them out before the fireworks start. When you go outside, make sure your dog’s harness fits properly, and their leash is securely clipped in. Of course, if it’s hot out, you might need to take several shorter walks instead to avoid heatstroke. After a nice stroll, your dog will sleep better, hopefully distracting them from the fireworks.

#7 – Provide a Distraction

Sleep isn’t the only distraction you can provide for your pooch. Puzzle toys, such as toys filled with treats or smaller squeaky toys, are great for keeping your canine’s mind busy. Playing games with your dog or giving them something to chew on can also distract them. Just make sure that you’re keeping an eye on them while they play to avoid choking.

#8 – Desensitize Them to Fireworks

Some dogs will freak out every 4th of July, no matter how many times they’ve experienced it. If you want this annual anxiety to end, you might need to work on some training. Try playing sounds of fireworks while rewarding your dog with something they love, like their favorite treat. Your dog might learn that fireworks aren’t a threat. If you’re having trouble with this, consult a vet or dog trainer for professional advice.

#9 – Try CBD for Dogs

Even if you’ve tried everything, your dog might still be overly anxious on the 4th of July. So, many dog parents try CBD for dogs to help soothe that nervousness. Cannanine Organic Hemp CBD is a great option for canines. CBD products can calm your dog and help them feel more comfortable without causing the side effects of medications. Plus, there’s no THC in Cannanine, so you know it’s safe and will not make your dog feel “high.”

Please! Pay attention and give our dogs, hearing and deaf, the care and love that they need. They ask very little from us. We are their guardians. Keep them secure. Give them love.

My heart is always warmed and filled with a real feeling of overflowing love, acceptance, and hope whenever I read or witness kindness and support being offered God’s precious creations. When children are learning to lend a hand to those in need, such as our deaf, blind dogs, these wonderful feelings pour like a magnificent waterfall placed smack dab in the middle of the most beautiful types of kindness, love, and acceptance.

No matter our age, all of us can learn from these incredible preschool students to open our hearts and do whatever we can to help and save others, no matter what.

Sit! Read! Enjoy!

Elsie is a three-year-old deaf and partially blind Dalmatian who was “unadoptable” until That Place Called Home (CA) diligently worked to locate her forever home located clear across the country.

Preschool raises money for blind, deaf dogs

Article from the Daily Journal, April 7, 2021

Kevin Jenkins, Managing Editor

https://dailyjournalonline.com/

Children attending Farmington Presbyterian Church's Window Tree Preschool received plenty of warmhearted entertainment Thursday morning courtesy of several furry friends who, along with their handlers, dropped by the preschool to celebrate a very special occasion.

That day marked the conclusion of Window Tree Preschool's third "Pennies for Puppies" fundraiser for "Speak St. Louis," a rescue organization for Australian Shepherds that specializes in promoting double merle awareness.

The term "double merle" refers to a dog bred by two merle-colored parents. Most people are unaware that when two merles of any breed are bred together, each puppy has a 25% chance of being born as a double merle.

Born with excessive white coloration, these dogs are known to have eye abnormalities, hearing impairments or sometimes both. Double merle puppies are often dumped into shelters or left to fend for themselves by careless breeders.

Common breeds with the merle trait include Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, Catahoula Leopards, Chihuahuas, Collies, Dachshunds, and Great Danes, among others.

While the dogs may have been unable to see or hear very well, they were masters at giving and receiving love and attention from the excited children, workers and parents who filled the room with laughter and squeals of delight.

The children gently petted and held their special guests as their faces beamed with happiness.

"We have been doing this since 2019," said Preschool Director Tammy Moriarty. "One of our teachers that used to work here adopted a dog through them. We've been raising money for them. We collect as many pennies, nickels, dimes — anything we can — every spring for them."

Moriarty explained that the children are given empty Parmesan cheese containers in which to collect money for the rescue.

"Every morning we spend about 15 minutes counting whatever money they bring in — so, we're working on counting too and we're learning about different coins," she said. Then at the end, we take it all to the bank and cash it in so we don't have to give them a thousand pounds of coins."

This year, the children raised a total of $1,191.43 for Speak St. Louis.

"I think our first year we maybe had $400 or $500 and we've just gotten bigger and bigger every year," Moriarty said. "That's a lot of pennies! We're just so glad the kids can raise money for something and see where their money is going. We always like to do things like that."

As the children gathered around to present the check to Judy Duhr of Speak St. Louis, tears began welling up in her eyes.

"It means a lot to us," she said. "We haven't been able to do any events or anything since COVID started, so it's amazing. These kids are so kind and it helps us to help a lot more dogs with special needs."

Fireworks Tips for our Hearing and Deaf Dogs