People Skipped The Fireworks On July 4th To Comfort Frightened Shelter Dogs

Just like New Year’s, July 4 is not exactly a holiday for most dogs. Fireworks and other loud noises can actually make it a nightmare. And, though our family furballs have the commodity of hiding under the bed, shelter dogs aren’t so lucky. Nevertheless, one shelter came up with an excellent idea to comfort these homeless pups through this blasting holiday.

According to veterinarian Marty Becker, it is horrible for dogs to experience these noise phobias: “A lot of times, these dogs will self-mutilate. I’ve had dogs come in that have run through a plate-glass window. They think they’re going to die, and when you think you’re going to die, you do crazy things.”

“Calming the Canines,” at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC), is a new Independence Day tradition.

In 2018, over 300 local community members showed up at the shelter’s two locations around Phoenix, Arizona to comfort the scared dogs. This year, shelter staff hopes that the kindness will spread even wider, and even more meaningful connections will be made.

“It was overwhelming to see how the community responded,” stated Ben Swan, the shelter’s development director. “It really helped spread our message that MCACC is here to help.”

It wasn’t only a one-time thing. After the event, people developed a lasting bond with the pups that they looked over.