The Fourth of July may not live up to its reputation for dogs that are easily startled by loud sounds.
Fireworks have the potential to make our furry family members tremble under the bed or perhaps bolt for the hills (this is one of the main reasons why so many dogs are reported missing on July 4).
As for the dogs at the shelter who don’t even have homes, they have no choice except to hide in their cages by themselves until the noise from the fireworks stops. However, one shelter came up with a fantastic plan to assist these homeless dogs in unwinding over the Christmas season.
The Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) has started a new tradition for Independence Day called “Calming the Canines,” which is helping to demonstrate that being nice is a patriotic act.
Over the course of the previous year, more than 300 members of the community visited either of the shelter’s two facilities in and around Phoenix, Arizona.
“It was overwhelming to see how the community responded,” Ben Swan, the development director of the shelter, stated in a news statement. It was a great assistance in spreading the word that MCACC is available to assist anyone in need.
Amy Engel, who attended Calming the Canines the previous year and is the administrator of the Arizona Dawg Saverz Facebook group, said to The Dodo that she had every intention of attending this year’s event as well.
“Some people read to them, others sang to them, and still others just sat there and gave them treats!” In her article from the previous year, Engel discussed her experience. “It was absolutely fantastic because the dogs absolutely adore attention, and they were focused on the people rather than the fireworks that were going off outside,” the author said.
It turned out that the event had additional really good repercussions that lasted for more than just the one night it was held.
“Many participants developed lasting relationships with the shelter, returning to provide foster care, adopt a pet, or volunteer,” the MCACC noted in its report.
After the success of the event the previous year, the animal shelter has compiled some suggestions for other animal shelters who want to begin their own Calm the Canines activities. For instance, visitors are requested to bring blankets or folding chairs to sit on, and they are instructed to allow the dog or cat approach them while maintaining a peaceful and quiet demeanor.
The staff at the shelter anticipates that even more important connections will be created this year, and that compassion will be conveyed to persons who are in need of it; and that is something that ought to be celebrated in its own right.