Your Pets the 4th and Cats vs. Critters

From the Westover Hills Straywatch;

With this holiday weekend comes a couple of reminders that I pass along from other neighbors.

As most of you pet owners know from experience, animals (especially dogs) can get seriously spooked by fireworks (as by thunder storms). Consequently, the Fourth of July results in more runaway dogs and dog-car fatalities than any other time of year. We will have a half-dozen fireworks displays within hearing distance in the next few days (the Sunday night extravaganza at Belle Isle/Lee Bridge, Monday night at Dogwood Dell, and Monday through Wednesday at the Diamond). For their own safety and happiness, please keep your animals indoors during these fireworks displays. Some people recommend putting a tight shirt (or a commercial product called a “Thunder Shirt”) on your dog to relieve anxiety. We can’t vouch for the effectiveness of the shirt method, but others believe it works.

Other neighbors have witnessed outdoor cats killing birds, rabbits, and other wildlife, and ask people to please control their outdoor cats. The Richmond City Code (section 10-173) says that “No owner shall fail to exercise proper care and control of a dog or cat to prevent it from becoming a public nuisance.” It’s safe to say that there are diverse and conflicting opinions whether or not this clause applies to cats killing wildlife, but I think we can all agree that common sense and common courtesy suggest that cat owners should do all that they can to prevent them from killing the wildlife that all of us enjoy. Please “bell” your cat and try to restrain predatory cats to your own property.

Enjoy the weekend – and be careful out there.