Comic #9 A Dog Vaca(tes)
Written by Cristina Byrne | Illustration by Sarah JL Mapes
The 4th of July means summer is in full swing across (North) America and a chance to wish Uncle Sam a BIG "Feliz Cumpleaños!"
The holiday where everyone is matchy-matchy with their red, white, and blue, waving their star spangle banner, celebrate that 244 years ago, the 13 colonies claimed their independence from England. Which eventually led to the formation of what we know today as The United States.
It's hard to imagine the 4th of July without the consumption of 150 million hot dogs each year on this National Holiday according to Insider.com, hamburgers, corn on the cob, barbecues, strawberry shortcake, lemonade, pie, ice-cream, and of course fireworks!
The American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) estimates that more than 14,000 firework displays take place every Fourth of July in the U.S, and the top 3 states that spend the most on fireworks are Missouri, Alabama, and Kansas. APA executive director Julie Heckman said, "fireworks professionals plan for about 11 months for one month of booming business."
It's their bread and butter!
While July 4th celebrations are a blast for humans, the loud bangs and other noises can be horrid for many dogs.
“More pets end up in shelters during and after the 4th of July than any other time of year because fireworks scare the bejeezus out. Frightened dogs tend to bolt and run long distances until they get far away from whatever scared them, and if the fireworks keep going off, the dog will keep running. Some people think their dog will be OK if they leave it in a fenced yard, but a panicked dog can jump over a moderately high fence.”
Fireworks can be both triggering and stressful for anxious dogs because the sudden loud sounds can release stress hormones. Which unfortunately means a lot of dogs run away and go missing during this holiday.
Pay close attention and learn to recognize signs and what they may mean.
Symptoms of stress can include: “panting, trembling, drooling, pacing, hiding, trying to escape, decreased appetite, potty accidents, dilated pupils or wide eyes, and whining or barking.” - Preventative Vet
Here are some tips for Dogs and Fireworks
Exercise your dog before the fireworks start
Stay home
Be calm
Drown out the sound
Respect your dogs fear
Provide distraction
Try the thunder jacket
Remove visual stimulation
Be prepared
Advertisements across (North) America are blasting on the TV and the radio about “Attend the biggest fireworks display” because of course we humans all want to witness the BIGGEST fireworks.
Butter notices an ad in the Dog News about “Discounts on International Flights for Dogs” during the holiday weekend. Since 4th of July is celebrated in North America, an international flight during the holiday sounds like a good place a dog should go.
So Butter (and Bread) decide to go on vacation to escape the blasts, the bangs, and hot dog eating contests.
Where are they off to…I wonder.
