Fireworks frenzy? For dogs, July Fourth is no picnic

Linda Borg Journal Staff Writer @lborgprojocom
Jul 3, 2018 at 6:59 PM Jul 4, 2018 at 9:44 AM

"They like to seek shelter someplace confining, like a den," said Dr. E.J. Finocchio, a vet and president of the Rhode Island Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "It's good to have a small space. Leave the crate door open. Place a few toys inside. Put a blanket over it. Play soft music."

At the Potter League for Animals, in Middletown, the staff plays soothing classical music to distract the pets from the noise outside. Many of their spaces are also soundproof. Some shelters use snug-fitting vests to soothe dogs by swaddling them.

"Dogs have a fight-or-flight response when they're scared," said Kara Montalbano, spokeswoman for the Potter League. "They have no idea where the noise comes from. It's an unknown stimulus. It only happens once a year."

Russ Smith, who runs an off-leash doggie daycare in Tiverton, said when he was a child, his golden retriever, Buffy, was so frightened that he crashed through a plate glass window and ran for 20 miles.