We know we’re not the only ones who wait all year for summertime. With school schedules out the window, daylight lasting until 8 p.m., and comfortable temperatures going well into the night there’s no shortage of fun to be had. And for those who love to host, summer is the perfect time to have people over for some food and fun in the sun – but not without proper accommodations for your pet. Sure, some animals may thrive in social settings and mingle perfectly among your guests, but others may not enjoy the commotion and activity that having a party can present. Here are 5 summer safety tips for the social hosts and hostesses out there.
- Inside is Best. The safest place for your pet during any party is indoors. Be sure doors to the home are kept closed or designate a room for them (preferably toward the back of the house.) As an added precaution, put signs on important doors asking guests to close them or a friendly reminder to avoid going into your animal’s room.
*Pro-Tip: Make sure to put a few of their favorite playthings, like a chew toy stuffed with Pro-Treats, in the room. And if it won’t cause them more stress, pop in throughout the night to soothe your pet and remind them they haven’t been forgotten.
- Tucker ’em out. Take your dog on a run or to the dog park during the day so they’re too tuckered to worry (too much) about what’s going on outside.
- D. is Key. To be extra safe, make sure their collar is secure and tags and microchip info are up to date. Don’t have them? Time to invest before the next soiree.
- Keep it Pet Friendly. With sunscreen and bug sprays, BBQ’ed bones, and perhaps a few cocktails in the mix, there’s a lot about summer BBQs that simply isn’t meant for pets; be sure guests aren’t feeding your pet table scraps and only use pet-friendly SPF/insect repellents on animals if they’re going to be outside.
- Other Stress Reducing Options. For pets that have extremely high anxiety, consider an anxiety wrap or sound therapy, which is designed specifically for pets’ ears to soothe them. If your animal is comfortable in a crate, let them retreat there and do what you can to reduce their view of the goings on so they can relax.
What are some ways you help your pet de-stress during the festivities? Share with us on Facebook!
