Rain, Lightning and THUNDER, Oh My!

Who knew when I moved to Austin in 2013 that it would actually turn into Seattle in 2015?  Seriously what is up with all of this rain?  I am sure you're not the only one who is about to jump off a cliff - this constant rain means your furry friends probably can't enjoy outside much.  No sun, no dry, no play....  Even worse is if your furries are afraid of those flashes of lightning or the rumbling thunder growls, or the sudden loud claps of thunder that are jolting even to us humans who know what is going on out there in the wild. 

But think of this....what about all of those animals in Austin boarding kennels?  Wonder what they must be going through stuck in their cages with a treacherous storm going on outside and no one there to calm and comfort them one-on-one. No human bed to curl up in or hide under.  The thought makes me sad. 

I have cared for more than a few dogs who became nearly distraught with terror during thunderstorms.  Panting, fretting, hiding, shaking, etc.  It is not pretty.  Even my own dog, the late Jiminey Cricket, began to get pretty disturbed by storms later in his life and especially after we moved to Austin.  I am grateful I was always there to comfort him and my client's pets during said storms.

All of this bad Austin weather makes me think about all those nervous furries out there!  Think of that the next time you hire someone for stop-by visits or the next time you think about kenneling your pup for "just a quick weekend getaway".  Your pet needs more time and attention than just a couple of hours a day, and ESPECIALLY if they are afraid of storms!  Afterall 2-3 nights or days of storms can feel like an eternity to your terrified animal unless someone is there to comfort them through the night or day.  That is a lot of stress for your furry friend in addition to the stress of just you being gone. 

Moral of the story:  Going on a trip? Choose your pet-care wisely. Look at weather reports. Thunder?  You might want to try an overnight pet sitter like Custom Critter Sitters!

PS. That little holiday called Independence Day (Fourth of July)  is coming up. How does your pet react to fireworks?