4th of July

As much as we all love a holiday, and Independence Day, we know our pets do not.

Many cats will be found hiding under beds or in closets. Many dogs will be trembling in fear.

The best thing you can do for them is keep them home with doors and windows closed.

Calm your dogs with Thundershirts. Prepare a safe haven for your cat. Treat them with

respect and understanding, comforting them when they need it. Most of all, keep them

safe.

This is not a possibility for a feral cat or colony, however. Any caretaker's worse fear

is to lose a member because they ran away, or worse....some sadistic person gets

hold of one and ties firecrackers to them.

However, we can take some precations to keep them safe, similar to those you would take

for your pet. Prepare some safe places for them to hide; boxes and shelters hidden away

from the public, but readily accessible to the cats will work nicely. Clean up their feeding

stations and hide them away from view so mischevious people will not take notice.

If the colony is in a park or close to a firework zone, you may consider trapping and housing

them overnight (ask a local rescue if you can borrow traps for the occasion). Make sure

you give them extra time to resurface for the next feeding. They may still be in hiding

from the nights trauma. Call them gently and give them some extra time before picking

up food so they can be coaxed out. Provide plenty of water, after a night of

terror, they will be parched.

Here's hoping that they all have a safe holiday!