3rd Week of Summer: Fido and the 4th of July

What makes the 4^th of July special to you?   Is it the barbeques? Is it the parades? Is it the fun memories of family and friends? Or is it the chance to watch a firework show?

The 4^th of July is a special part of our culture, so it makes sense to share that special time with the four-legged family member too.  Any 4th of July parade is a patriotic way to celebrate our freedom and it’s a great way to involve your dog in the celebration as well.

Enjoy the festivities of 4^th of July this year by lining up along Main Street in Corona for their annual 4^th of July parade.  The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Main Street and Ontario and continues until 12 p.m. ending at Main Street and Olive Street. 

Anaheim will be holding their 4th of July parade in Anaheim Hills, starting at 3:00 p.m. from Canyon High School near the corner of Santa Ana Canyon Road and Imperial.

The Huntington Beach 4^th of July Parade is said to be “the largest Independence Day parade west of the Mississippi River” with more than 300 entries, from bands and floats to celebrities and community groups.  The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway and will end at Main Street and Yorktown Avenue.

The Newport Beach Harbor Old Glory Boat Parade is a festive spectacle of boats, decorated in red, white, and blue, cruising around the harbor.  The fun filled day begins at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast for a donation of $8 per person.  Lunch and dinner (tri-tip and chicken) will be available from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. for a donation of $10 per person.  There will be raffles and live entertainment throughout the day as well.

There will plenty of patriotic parades throughout Southern California this Independence Day, such as the parades in Ontario (Inland Empire) and Lake Forest (Orange County), so check your local city calendar to see if your city will be hosting a parade this year. 

No matter what parade you choose to go to, get there early if you want a good spot.  And don’t forget the lawn chair, sunblock, and plenty of water for you and your pup.

**Dogs and FIREWORKS:

Fireworks are a major part of our Independence Day celebration, but they are not the way to share the celebration with your dog.  Unless you are just watching fireworks on TV, be sure to set your dog (or cat) up in the house to block out most (if not all) firework noise.

Fireworks can make the perfect dog turn into the most neurotic dog you’ve ever seen.  To help keep your dog’s sanity and your property in tack, do the following: 

1.      Make sure your dog is inside the house before leaving for the night.  If you have an outside dog, then put them in the garage (after the sun goes down so they don’t suffer a heat stoke).  If your dog is allowed inside the house, put them in a room furthest from where you think the firework noise will be coming from (for example, if the fireworks show is at a local school just east of your house then put your dog in the furthest room to the west).

2.      Turn on soothing music.  Classical music is the most soothing, but anything will do as long as it isn’t angry or harsh music that would cause your dog further anxiety. (FYI: the classical FM station is 91.5). You don’t want to turn the volume all the way up, making your dog deaf or causing more anxiety, but make it loud enough to distract them from outside noises.

   Enjoy your Independence Day with your whole family, four-legged family members included!