Special to the Star-Herald
Can you believe it is almost July 4th? Boy, this summer is flying by quickly. I have two dogs who are deathly scared of fireworks, so during the festivities, they stay home. I am thankful that I live far enough away from town that it doesn’t bother them.
I do know that there are dogs who live right in town and you can’t get away from the noise. Here are some tips to help your dog through the stress. The first thing is to recognize the signs of stress in your dog, some examples are: “flight” trying to get away from the noise or hiding, panting, barking, pacing or drooling. The most common behavioral problems that are associated with loud noises are dogs trying to escape or being destructive. My dog, Tommy, wants to be with me; he pants and will follow me outside, but runs into the barn or hides under the steps. His face will look worried and his head and tail are down. He does not respond to my voice; he only runs, hoping to escape the loud noise.
What I have done with Tommy is to create a safe place for him. He will go into my laundry room which has no windows and usually the washer or dryer is going so there is a calming hum. When my daughter was younger, he would go into her room and hide under her crib. It is recommended that wherever your scared dog goes, play music, turn the TV on or run the fan to try to mask the sound of the thunder.
Some dogs prefer to move when they are scared or stressed. This is the time to engage in an activity that gets their mind off their fear. This works best in the beginning stages of the anxiety or stress, when you first notice your dog becoming anxious.
One of the best things you can do as an owner is carry on as usual, like nothing is wrong and there are no big noises. This reassures your dog and helps them to be more confident. Dogs are sensitive and play off our emotions, so it is important that our reaction to storms be minimal. Our dogs depend on us to be good leaders, that includes being confident.
How did I know Tommy had a fear of thunder? The first night he arrived at my home there was a storm in the middle of the night. I awoke to a 50-pound dog sitting in the middle of my chest panting and drooling. It really hasn’t gotten any better, and now my Zoe is afraid as well. I believe she sees Tommy’s fear and so she is scared as well. So I create their safe place in the laundry room where they can wait out the storm.
Our pets depend on us for many things. Please consider adoption as a huge commitment, not to be taken lightly.
If you are looking for a friend for life, please visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We are open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday or give us a call at 764-3441. You can also visit us online at www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org
At this time, the Humane Society could really use non-scoopable cat litter, any brand will do. Thanks for helping!
Photo courtesy of Christine Robinson
To earn their Bronze Award, the Jr. Girl Scout Troop from Wallagrass came to visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society on Saturday, May 17. While at the shelter, they left many wonderful donations. Pictured are: Leader Denise Witmer, Shantelle Rioux, Gigi Witmer, Amelia Guimond, Amanda Ouellette, Kaye Lozier, Amber Devoe and Emily Ouellette. The group had a lovely tour and talked about responsible pet ownership and working with the animals.
Photo courtesy of Christine Robinson
This is Katie Ann McLaughlin. For her birthday theme she asked to be able to donate to the animal shelter. She brought her friends to the Central Aroostook Humane Society, with treats and toys for the animals. She also brought her cake to share with all of us here.
