Fireworks can be stressful for nervous dogs. Here’s how to keep them calm this weekend – Marion Star

It’s Independence Day this weekend and for pet owners with nervous dogs, it can be a stressful time.

It seems all but inevitable this weekend that fireworks are going to be used in Marion. The Marion County Fair is slated to host its fireworks display on Saturday at 10 p.m. at the fairgrounds. And with Ohio lawmakers passing a bill that would make setting fireworks off on certain holidays now legal, there could also be a rise in residents putting on their own shows. The law, however, doesn’t take effect until 2021.

For dogs and pet owners, this means unpredictable and loud noises which can scare animals and leave them hiding in a bathroom, or under a bed. In fact, the Marion County Dog Pound and Marion Sheriff Matt Bayles released a statement this weekend regarding dogs and fireworks where it warned about having dogs outside during fireworks displays.

In the release on Facebook, it advised the Marion Dog Pound will be closed on July 4 and that dog owners should not have their pets outside during fireworks. Since it is common for dogs to become scared and run, the post encourages pet owners to just keep their dogs inside during displays.

If a dog were to flee from a home, owners should call (740)-386-6150 and leave a message with a description of the dog. Additionally, the post said owners should have tags on their dog to better help identify it if this situation were to arise. If someone were to find a lost dog, they can look up their tag number on the Marion County Auditor’s website to find the owner.

And if pet owners are looking for some better ways to have their dog be better suited for fireworks, Riley Bails, adoption coordinator for the Marion Area Humane Society, offered some advice. And her first bit of advice echoes that of the Dog Pound and the Sheriff’s Office: just keep dogs inside during the display.

“Keeping them indoors as much as possible keeps them safe, reduces their exposure to the overwhelming sounds, and it makes it impossible for them to run off out of fear,” Bails said. 

Bails added that if someone’s backyard is gated or fenced, now would be a good time to make sure it’s secure so pets can’t escape when they are let out to go to the bathroom. For extra protection, or if someone doesn’t have a fenced-in yard, Bails said make sure leashes and harnesses are extra snug so dogs have no chance of slipping out of it.

There’s also finding ways to simply distract your dog. Bails said it can be as easy as playing white noise in the background, or leaving the television or radio on at a louder than normal volume. And of course, be sure to give your dog plenty of attention and love during these times as some extra pets can go a long way in keeping their nerves down, she said.

“Snuggles are the best medicine for anxiety, but only if you know your dog doesn’t mind hugs,” Bails said. “They need to feel safe and secure, giving them extra love in moments of distress can often do wonders.”

Bails also recommends letting the dogs feel out how safe they feel inside the home. If they prefer to hide in the bathroom or under the bed, Bails said owners should let them as that’s the place they decided feels safest. And if a dog is really struggling with the fireworks, owners can wrap them up in a shirt or jacket to make them feel more safe.

Of course, there’s also loading up on treats, toys and bones for nervous dogs. These can be additional distractions from the display and double as a reward for making it through. For extra nervous dogs, Bails recommends getting in touch with a veterinarian to see what medical options are available.

If pet owners feel safe doing so, Zach Morrow, co-owner of Your CBD Store in the Servex Centre in Marion, recommends trying out their CBD dog treats. Morrow said these CBD treats can help calm the dogs nerves and keep them calm during the fireworks show. And the products here are all natural; the ingredients list on these various CBD dog treats includes yellow peas, bacon fat and ground peanuts.

Morrow agreed with Bails too; if pet owners would like to know more about CBD treats, they should talk with a veterinarian about it first. And once they feel safe, they can stop by the store to try out a free CBD dog treat sample to see how the dog reacts. If they are happy with the results, Your CBD Store offers anything from peanut butter flavored CBD treats to water-soluble droplets of bacon flavored CBD.

In light of the upcoming fireworks shows this weekend, Your CBD Store is running a special on CBD dog treats. With the purchase of two CBD dog treats from the store, customers are also given a CBD balm for dog’s noses and feet when they become dried out during the summer. 

Story by Mitch Hooper | (740)-244-9935 | bhooper@gannett.com | @_MH16 on Twitter