HOT Tips to Keep Pets Safe This Summer (and #Giveaway!)

With the July 4th weekend approaching, we're bringing you this reminder to help keep your pets safe and sound this holiday weekend and all summer long.

The ASPCA has provided the graphic with safety tips below. AND, they're also providing a really nifty and useful Summer Pet Safety Pack that one of our readers will have the chance to win. Make sure to read all the way down to enter the giveaway!

 Five Summer Dangers for Pets

This July 4th weekend, don't let your dog become of the lost-dog statistics. Loud noises like fireworks can cause dogs to bolt, so be sure to keep them in a safe and secure place. Here are five things to keep in mind so you can enjoy a healthy, active summer with your pets.

HOT tips for summer pet safety

In addition to the above, here are our HOT tips to keep in mind this summer.

FIdo's Freebie Friday Wishes You a Safe and Happy 4th of July!

Welcome to another edition of Fido's Freebie Friday (FFF), the weekly giveaway blog hop for all things pet!

This week, we've been inundated with messages about keeping our pets safe this 4th of July, and we'd like to thank everyone who's helping spread the word. More pets wind up lost and in shelters on July 5th than any other day, so the warnings are certainly worth heading.

Here's one more reminder from the folks at PetsBest.com.

We have a full evening of indoor fun and games planned, and it might involve some marathon TV watching too, to help muffle the noise! 

In the meantime, check out the selection of this week's giveaways in the Fido's Freebie Friday Blog Hop below. You can enter them all or add your own! We make it easy by linking them up all in one place.

Here's how to participate

The rules for Fido's Freebie Friday are super simple. Here's all you need to know to link up:

• You have up to 45 characters to describe your prize and include an expiration date
• Fido's Freebie Friday Blog Hop is open to posts with prizes for pet products or services, including pet-related or pet-themed items for owners. Use your specific post url to link up.
• Or simply enter the giveaways that interest you for a chance to win some fabulous prizes!

Fido's Freebie Friday opens each Thursday afternoon for linkups at 4 p.m. ET, and renews each week at the same time with a new listing. Link up anytime during the week!

For more information, you can check out the help page. Your hosts are All Things Dog Blog, DogTipper and To Dog With Love.

Happy (s)hopping!

Individual rules of entry and guidelines for winning may apply to each listing. All Things Dog Blog, Doggies and Stuff, DogTipper and To Dog With Love take no responsibility for the legality of the rules governing the listings on other sites and giveaways that are posted here. We simply provide this forum as a gathering place for pet products to be offered. Fulfillment of each giveaway is done by the blog conducting the giveaway, not by the hosts of this giveaway hop; please contact the giveaway host with any questions regarding a giveaway or giveaway prize.

4 Tips to Keep Your Dog Safe This 4th of July

We love the 4th of July -- all the pretty fireworks, picnics and outdoor fun. But it's also a day that's not particularly dog friendly.  Check out these stats and tips to help ensure you keep your pets safe and secure this holiday weekend.

Happy 4th of July! We hope you have a terrific and safe holiday weekend!

Happy 4th of July! Keep it safe for your pets sake!

Cosmo says, have a happy 4th of July but remember, pets and fireworks don't mix! Keep these tips in mind for a safe and healthy holiday.

Have fun!

Pictures of fireworks ARE safe for pets!

Have a safe and happy 4th!

4th of July Safety Tips for Pets

Cosmo Havanese is ready for the 4th but he won't be attending any firework celebrations

While you're looking forward to 4th of July celebrations, complete with festive barbecues and colorful fireworks, your pets may not share the same sentiments. Sure,  a steak fresh off the grill may smell tempting to Fido, but it's best to keep pets away from human treats as well as booming firework displays.

Keep your pets out of harms way with a few precautions and you'll have a much happier 4th of July. In addition to sheltering your pets from loud noises and dangerous fireworks don't forget that the products and foods that make your holiday barbecue a pleasure may be hazardous to your furry family members.

The ASPCA offers the following tips to keep your pets safe this holiday:

• Keep them home. Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them. The best option is to leave your pup indoors in a safe, secure, escape-proof room. Do not leave pets outside, even in a fenced yard, anytime fireworks might be set off.
• Make it comfy! Set up a comfy bed, food and water. Consider leaving a TV or radio on to drown out the sound of the fireworks and to provide familiar noises. And keep the windows and curtains closed to help muffle the noise and block bursts of light.
• Use Proper I.D. Make sure your pooch is wearing correct identification and tags just in case he or she becomes scared and runs away from home. Microchipping also is a great precaution.
• Keep the goodies at bay! Keep your pet away from used and unused fireworks, as well as alcoholic beverages, human foods and other 4th of July treats since many of these items can be harmful.
• Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
• Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.
• Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
• Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.

And remember, noisy 4th of July fireworks can be terrifying to pets and can cause them to flee from fright. In fact, July 5 is the busiest day of the year at animal shelters, according to the American Humane Association. So guard your pets from situations that may be dangerous to them and have a happy 4th of July!