Prepare your dog for holiday noise

The Coeur d’Alene Police Department is urging pet owners to make plans for dogs who may be frightened by fireworks on or around Independence Day.

Families can get carried away with holiday preparations and forget that the sound of fireworks may cause dogs to panic, said Sgt. Christie Wood, the department’s spokeswoman.

“A lot of dogs will go right through somebody’s screen door trying to get out. They just want to hide,” Wood said.

The local animal shelter takes in the highest number of runaway dogs in July due to fireworks, said Animal Control Officer Michelle Gilbertson.

“They think they’re getting shot at. I’ve never seen dogs go down to the park and watch the fireworks and go, ‘ooh, ahh,’” Gilbertson said.

Many runaway dogs can’t be returned because they lack proper identification tags, she said, urging owners at least to label pet collars. Gilbertson also stressed that dogs are not allowed in City Park.

On Wednesday, dog owners can put their pets in a quiet location such as a basement and try to keep them calm, Wood suggested. Owners should only leave dogs in backyards if they are certain the pets won’t respond negatively to fireworks, she said.

Owners may also want to consider getting a “doggie valium” from their veterinarian to help excitable canines cope with the noise of explosives, Wood said.

Such tranquilizers are available by prescription only, said Dr. Bruce King of Lakewood Animal Hospital in Coeur d’Alene.

King added that many clients ask about solutions for skittish dogs in the weeks leading up to July 4.

Another new option is a disposable plastic collar that releases an anxiety-calming pheromone, which also comes in a plug-in room diffuser, King said.

The over-the-counter pheromone only affects dogs, King said, and is good for helping panicky pooches through the fireworks season.