@WakeUpCall – Kevin McManus, Pasadena Humane

Amy talks with  Amy PR & Communications Director Kevin McManus about keeping pets safe on the 4th of July.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's say good morning now to Pasadena Humane's PR and
communications director Kevin McManus.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
Morning, Kevin, good morning.

Speaker 1 (00:07):
How are you doing good? So I know that we
love the rockets red Glare, but our animals not so much.
So let's talk about some of the things we can
do to keep our animals safe and calm. For the fireworks. Well,
I had some in my neighborhood last night, but really
start in earnest, probably Friday night and through Saturday night.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Yeah, I think even tonight because of the holiday for
most people or many people tomorrow. Yeah, I mean there's
a lot of things you can do today and tomorrow
before like the height of the fireworks on the fourth.
And you know, can even start right now with you know,
checking your pets ID so if you have, you know,
make sure you have a collar with tags on all

(00:50):
of your pets, even if they're predominantly indoors, because you
never know what can happen, you know, gets scared and
makes a run for it. So to check the ID,
make sure that your phone number is updated. If you
have your pets microchip, to make sure you check in
with your microchip company to see that all of your
information is up to date, and you can even check

(01:13):
in with your veterinarian today and tomorrow. And you know,
if your pet is really susceptible to being parified by
by fireworks or loud noises, maybe your vet can help
with some medication to help them through like a really
difficult weekend.

Speaker 1 (01:28):
Doggy downers exactly, Kevin. If they're not micro chipped, is
it pretty easy to get them done? Get it done?

Speaker 2 (01:42):
Oh my gosh, it's so quick. It's you know, the
as quick as getting like a shot. And you know
that's something that is good for the pet's life. And well,
you know one of those things that for a pet
that comes into a shelter, one of the first things
that is checked to see if they have a chip.
And and that makes getting those animals home very very easy.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
Okay. Do you see a huge uptick in the number
of animals turned into the shelter to Pasadena Humane over
the fourth.

Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah, definitely. And I think you know, part of it
just go back to those tips is you know, if
people have their dogs are out, you know, and are
watching fireworks, it's so easy for a dog to freak
out get away, and so shelters all over all over
the country, but certainly in southern California they're inundated with
animals over especially over a long weekend, along holiday weekend. Yeah,

(02:37):
the fifth of July is you know, one of our
biggest days for getting pets back to their owners who've
you know, escaped during the night. And so that's why
that identification is is so so important.

Speaker 1 (02:50):
Okay, so you mentioned microchips. You mentioned if your dog
is really freaked out, maybe talk to your vets see
if they could get something to relax them a little bit.
Do those thunder jackets work. We had a couple people
hit us up on the talk back and say.

Speaker 2 (03:01):
That, yeah, yeah, I mean it's something you want to
try out before, you know, make sure your pet's comfortable,
like thundershirts, any kind of calming aid. You want to
try to do that, you know ideally you know, starting
like a week ago, but realistically it's okay to try now.
So if you have access to a thundershirt or you know,

(03:24):
if you don't, you know, certainly go to your pet store,
your local pet store. And it's an interesting concept, but
it kind of swaddles the dog and kind of keeps
them calm. And those have been proven to be pretty effective.
If you can't do that or don't have access to that,
you can do things at home that are going to

(03:45):
be a similar vibe. You know, if you can create
a safe space somewhere in your home, away from windows,
away from loud noises, you know, with with betting, with
you know, your dog's favorite blanket, maybe some some toys
or something that to sue them. And if you, if possible,
spend as much time with your pets over the next

(04:05):
couple of evenings as possible and.

Speaker 1 (04:08):
Hopefully that will keep them a little bit calm. And
then of course, if your pet does get out, call
your local shelters and is there something network of it
of dogs that are turned in or is it just
you have to call individual shelters.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
Well, it's a good idea to call the shelter that
is closest to you that provides care for your for
animals as an example, like if you're in Pasadena, of
course we are the shelter that you know could end
up with your pet if he or she were to
get out, but just next door in Eagle Rock, that's
part of LA Animal Services, so and it's kind of

(04:41):
a complex network of shelters in southern California unfortunately, So
you do if your pet does get out, check the
closest one first, but then continue to check other ones.
And there's online tools that you can use. You know,
there's a website called pet co Love Lost, and that's
specifically for sending out alerts to your neighborhood in your
community that a pet has been lost, and of course

(05:05):
your local next door or your local Facebook group, anything
that can get the word out that your dog or
cat has gone missing that will help them get home
as quickly as possible.

Speaker 1 (05:15):
All right, Pasadena, he means Kevin mcmahonus. Thanks so much
for the tips. We do them every year, but I
think that they're very important because we want to keep
our furry friends happy and safe and calm. For the
fourth of July, Thanks Kevin. Happy Birthday America.