Holland animal experts: How to keep pets safe this weekend

HOLLAND — We look forward to Independence Day with barbeques, fireworks and more. But for pets, it can be a tough time, with hundreds of runaways.

How can you keep your pets safe? We've collected tips from local animal shelters and daycares.

First, make sure your pets are microchipped or have a tag with your phone number on their collar.

‌Michelle Kenat, executive director of Best Pals Animal Rescue in Holland, said it’s important for owners to make sure, if their pet gets out, there's a way for someone to bring them back.

“They get spooked, they get scared, they jump fences, they run away,” Kenat said, adding a microchip or tag with contact information can “alleviate many of the lost animals and sad hearts the next day.”

Microchipping can be done by a veterinarian.

Pet owners can also try desensitizing their animals to fireworks, which can lead to less anxiety and fear. If that doesn’t work, Alex Dils from Paradigm Dog School recommends using a white noise machine or a loud TV to try and drown out some of the noise.

Owners can also get their pet a “thunder shirt,” a compression shirt for animals that feels similar to being swaddled, which can reduce anxiety.

Other options? Create a safe space for your pet during fireworks shows. ‌Sadie Zrimec from Eddie and Barkus in Holland recommends “boom rooms.”

“If your dog is really scared of fireworks, creating a safe place in your house with no windows, it's quieter, they can't really get a lot of the outside noise,” Zrimec said.

Tiring pets out before fireworks by taking walks or playing throughout the day can help, as well.

‌“My biggest thing would be definitely getting (pets) tired before the fireworks start, having their brain tired and not focusing so much on that firework,” said Elizabeth Arendsen from The Dog House Resort and Spa in Holland.

Arendsen also recommends trying to distract pets.

Carley Alger from Eddie and Barkus suggests natural remedies and medicines.

“There are CBD options for calming, there's chamomile options for calming, melatonin,” Alger said. "There's quite a few different calming treats, options, calming oils, pheromone sprays that you can find at most pet stores.”

She said the most important thing is “making sure you're there for your pet during the holidays.”

“Those are all little things that could save a life,” Kenat said.

— Contact intern Abigail Shanley at abigailwshanley@hotmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland animal experts: How to keep pets safe this weekend