Temporary fosters needed to calm pets on July 4

There's a few pooches in Port Charlotte and Englewood in need of a safe place to stay overnight so they aren't alone and scared during fireworks celebrations.

The Suncoast Humane Society in Englewood and Animal Welfare League in Port Charlotte still have some shelter pets who need someone to love on them and tell them they will be all right as the fireworks go off in the neighborhood.

The shelter opens for fostering at 2 p.m. Thursday at 6781 San Casa Drive, Englewood. Fostering is open that day at AWL from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3519 Drance St, Port Charlotte.

Temporary fosters can take home the pet, walk, comfort and snuggle them when they are stressed from fireworks and thunder.

There are some soothing technics to help a dog hours before fireworks begin.

According to Englewood resident and certified dog trainer and behavioral consultant Jeff Joyce, each dog reacts differently. But the techniques generally have meaningful outcomes.

“When a dog hears the loud rumbling of thunder or a sharp crack of a firework, it’s unpredictable for the dog, and the dog reacts with fear or anxiety or shakes,” said Joyce, director of Positive Solutions for A Sound Beginnings of SouthWest FL. "Counterconditioning links a bad stimulus to something the dog enjoys."

The dog owner should take what the dog loves like a tennis ball, dog treat or toy and associate those items in place of a bad stimulus.

"Then the dog focuses and anticipates something good instead of being scared," he said.

For example: fill a dog toy with organic pumpkin, pieces of boiled chicken breast and peanut butter and freeze it. Each time the dog hears the thunder clap or the boom of fireworks, give it a treat, Joyce said.

"It redirects the dog’s thinking," he said. "So when they hear thunder, they get a special treat. Now they are thinking about how to get at the food inside the frozen treat, and aren't scared."

Signs of anxiety in canines include pacing, drooling, ducking its head down and tucking in its tail, which also represent fight or flight behaviors.

Joyce said if a dog evacuates to a crate, a tub, a closet or on the pet owner’s lap, these are signs of the pet creating a safety zone.

Joyce uses sound therapy music by Bruce Oscar called "Music to help dogs cope with stress or fear." The brown noise soothes, reduces or muffles the sharpness of sounds.

"It’s a double-layer of comfort that we can offer our dogs to help them get through those scary times,” he said of the music that can be streamed on popular platforms.

Silvia McCoy, founder of Rescue Garage in North Port, said pet owners can use a blanket to swaddle a shaking dog or turn the television "moderately loud" but not blasting, to help with an anxious dog.

Dog calming vests also help, he said. The vest applies deep pressure to the body to calm the nervous system.

Adding pillows, blankets or the owner's clothing to a crate or closet can muffle sound. If the dog retreats to a tub, the owner can hang longer clothes or towels from shower for the same effect.

There's a pheromone, called Adaptil, that can be sprayed on blankets and bedding to help the dog relax, he said.

According to the American Kennel Club, higher rates of pets run away during the July 4 holiday week.

Pet owners should have up-to-date information on the dog's microchip — including the dog's name and owner's number. Take new photos of pets in case they become lost.

“Take the dog out to go potty and feed and water them early, so they don't have to go out when there’s fireworks,” McCoy said, adding if a dog must go out, use a double leash so they can’t break free as easily.

"Don’t leave any dog alone in a fenced yard as you don’t know if this is the year they will decide to be sensitive to loud noises," she said.

For more information on fostering at the Suncoast Humane Society, call 941-474-7884.

For more information on fostering at the Animal Welfare League, call 941-625-6720.