The weather is becoming refreshingly cooler, and it’s the perfect time for your playful pet to enjoy the great outdoors! However, the heavenly early autumn weather also means big nasty storms in the late afternoons and… dreaded hurricane season is upon us.
I have a 14-year-old whippet mix who I adopted from the Richmond SPCA at 8 weeks old. I’ve had her all her life, and in her golden years she’s become very anxious when storms occur. She gets restless, pants and tries her best to get into small enclosed spaces away from the roars of thunder. These days I try my best to do all I can to prepare her for storms.
Even if your pet isn’t afraid of storms, most of these tips are important for all pet owners. With the increased inclement weather this time of year it’s essential to ensure your pet’s safety and comfort.
- ID tag: In addition to a sturdy collar that’s properly fitted, pets should have an identification tag engraved with important contact information such as your address and multiple phone numbers. Studies have shown that ID tagging pets is an effective method to increase the likelihood they will be returned home if lost or during a disaster.
- Thundershirt: Over 80 percent of individuals who have tried Thundershirts on their anxious pets have witnessed positive results. The shirt provides gentle, comfortable pressure, similar to swaddling a baby.
- Pet crate: Dogs naturally like small, safe, well-defined spaces. If your pet is at all like my whippet mix, then she will appreciate a place to hide when lightning strikes. Through proper crate training, your dog will come to think of her crate as a comforting den. The Richmond SPCA training staff has a helpful crate training guide which can be found here.
- KONGs or other interactive toys: Give your pup something to distract her from the scary sounds happening outside. Fill a KONG or other toy with peanut butter or something super yummy that might divert her attention from a storm.
The Richmond SPCA Gift Shop is having a fantastic sale now through Sept. 30 on pet ID tags (discount applied automatically when added to your cart online or at the register in-store). Make time today to look at your pets’ collar and ID tags. Is the collar secure? Is the information clearly legible, or has it gotten worn with time? Have you moved or changed your phone number since their tags were made? Take this opportunity to make updates that could be vital to a safe reunion with your pet.
It’s the Richmond SPCA Gift Shop’s top priority to make sure pets and their guardians have a safe and enjoyable autumn season!
As always, all proceeds from sales benefit the orphaned pets in the care of the Richmond SPCA.
Thanks for your support!
Abby Waller is the manager of retail and procurement at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before submitting a comment, please review our commenting guidelines.
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