Hot Dog News Keep Your Dog Safe on the 4th of July! Act Today, Don't Wait Un l the 4th! I f your dog gets anxious and nervous at the sound of fireworks, start planning now on how you will keep them safe and how you will minimize their anxiety. If you live in an area where others set off fireworks, have a conversation with those people now. Politely explain how distressing fireworks are to your pets. Ask them to either refrain from using fireworks or to at least keep their use to a minimum, at times you are not home. If you cannot reach an agreement, make sure you have the phone number of the local authorities on speed dial and do not hesitate to make a complaint. Talk to your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medications you may use to help your pet. Over the counter products such as Bach Rescue Remedy, ComfortZone Dog Appeasing Pheromone, endocannabinoid based products specifically for pets and certain essential oils, such as Lavender, may also be helpful.
According to the American Humane Association, more dogs are lost on the 4th of July than any day of the year! • 10 million pets get lost every year. This is more than the popula on of New York City. • Of the dogs entering shelters, approximately 35% are adopted, 31% are euthanized and 26% are returned to their owner. • Without proper ID or microchipping, 90% of lost pets never return home. • A third of pets will get lost in their life me. • An es mated 2 million pets are stolen each year. To prevent your dog from becoming a 4th of July sta s c: • Keep your dog on a leash unless they are inside. Do not leave your dog outside unattended, even if your yard is fenced. A dog may panic and either escape or hurt themselves while trying to escape. • If you have guests in your home, make sure everyone is
See FIREWORKS on page 15
Shelter dog Fiona, a 3-year-old terrier mix, is ready for a sleepover, and hopefully a forever home. PHOTO BY JILL PIPER
Lincoln County Animal Shelter's New Slumber Party Program The Lincoln County Animal Shelter in Ed Edgecomb and sister shelter Coastal Hu Humane Society in Brunswick have lau launched a new program to help longter canine residents find homes. term The Slumber Party Program gives pe pe people the opportunity to take home ad adoptable dogs for 3-day sleepovers tha will serve as a trial adop on that pe period while families and individuals ass assess the fit of the animal in their ho o home. The shelters hope that the new in ni a ve will help pups who have ini bee in their care the longest find been ho homes.
Shelter officials hope that sleepovers will encourage people to consider adop ng a dog with more par cular, but manageable needs. “Our long-term residents some mes need more specific home environments, and Slumber Par es are a way for poten al adopters to take home one of these sweethearts for a ‘test drive’ without making the commitment to adopt right away,” said Dr. Mandie Wehr, Director of Shelter Opera ons for Lincoln County Animal Shelter and Coastal Humane Society.
See SLUMBER on page 15
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