Au contraire, most pets aren't party animals.

Pets often become frightened and frantic by the noise and commotion of Independence Day. In fact, animal shelters across the country are accustomed to receiving "July 4th" dogs-dogs who run off during fireworks celebrations and are rescued by animal control officers or good samaritans who take them to the safety of a local shelter.

With a little bit of planning and forethought, you can enjoy the excitement of the Fourth of July and know that your animal companion is enjoying a little peace and quiet.

If you follow these simple precautions, you and your pet can have a safe and happy Fourth of July:

• RESIST the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.
• Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you've removed any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him company while you're attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.
• If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.
• Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn't leave the yard may escape and become lost, risking injury or death.
• Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners.

What's the matter with MATS?

Even the most well-intentioned pet owners sometimes fall short when it comes to keeping their pets well-groomed over the winter months. As a result we see a lot of heavily matted pets in the spring and summer.

The following Q & A is off the Whisker Washers™ website and addresses the subject of matting. We hope you find it informative.

Q: My dog has a lot of mats. Is it really necessary to shave her almost bald?
A: It depends on the severity of the matting. Your dog's health and well being is our first concern. Minor mats can sometimes be worked out by hand or with other tools but it can be very time-consuming for the groomer and more costly for the pet owner, not to mention very stressful for the pet. Sometimes shaving down is the only humane solution. Severe mats can cause skin irritations and hide other conditions such as hot spots, dermatitis, seborrhea, parasites, cuts, scabs, sores and redness. We can't be responsible for the condition of your pet's skin under all that hair, but we will do our best to warn you ahead of time so you are aware of the danger. Because your dog is severely tangled or matted, they are at greater risk of injury, stress and trauma. All precautions will be taken during the grooming of your dog. However, problems can occasionally arise, during or after the grooming, such as nicks, clipper irritation and mental or physical stress. Your groomer will decide whether it is possible to de-matt your dog gently and humanely or if a "shave down" is necessary.

Often after shaving, your dog's skin can look fine, but she will spend the next few days scratching like crazy. Unfortunately, this is normal. Severe matting decreases the circulation of blood to your dog's skin. You know how it feels when your foot falls asleep; imagine that feeling all over your whole body and you will understand why your pet is scratching incessantly. Of course, we want your dog to look beautiful, but it's more important that they're healthy. We will discuss your choices, how best to address them and most important of all, how to avoid the same situation in the future.