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Adventures with Ava: Helping Pets Cope with Weather

Each quarter, WBAL-TV meteorologist Ava Marie offers readers a peek at the wonders of our community’s weather and our natural world. This month, she’s helping pets cope with weather.
By Ava Marie

Each quarter, WBAL-TV meteorologist Ava Marie offers readers a peek at the wonders of our community’s weather and our natural world. This month, she’s helping pets cope with weather.


Last year, our family welcomed a new furry friend. His name is Stanley, and he loves belly rubs and chewing on dirty socks. The meteorologist in me is already thinking about thunderstorm season, and how I can help him cope with the loud noises. For advice, I reached out to Kylie Woodall, a training and enrichment coordinator on the canine behavior team at BARCS (Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter).

Thunderstorms can be so tough on our pets. What can we do to help?
In preventing anxiety, enrichment is key! If I know a stressful event is coming up, maybe it’s a thunderstorm, a holiday involving fireworks, or I’m having a lot of guests over, I will make sure I exercise my dog plenty beforehand. Then, roughly ten minutes before the stressful event occurs, I will set my dog up in their safe space with a form of mental enrichment. Dogs are greatly comforted by being able to lick and chew things, so for us this usually looks like giving my dogs a long-lasting chew like a bully stick or beef cheek roll.

What other precautions should we take any time we are expecting loud noises, even fireworks?
Many dogs will react to fear by trying to bolt, which can be very dangerous. You want to be proactive about making sure they do not run away from home, and you want to have a plan in place if they do. Make sure your pets are microchipped and have accurate information attached to it. Having a well-fitted collar with up-to-date county, rabies, and name tags that have your address and phone number are a must, too. Additionally, tags that communicate your pet’s medical needs if they are diabetic or on regular medications can put emphasis on the importance that they are returned home.

When should people consider getting professional help for their pet’s behavior?
Getting intervention from a professional is better done a month too early than a second too late. In 2010, the ASPCA reported that the number one reason for pets being surrendered to shelters was for behavior problems. BARCS is proud to provide community resources to help empower pet owners and keep pets with their families. Dog training is, unfortunately, an unregulated field. We are proud to use scientifically proven methods that are backed by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, who are widely regarded as the gold-standard authority in dog training and animal behavior. Finding an educated trainer that you can trust to use up-to-date information that will protect and improve upon the relationship you have with your dog is the most important thing.


I’d love to hear how you help your pets cope with the weather! Reach out to me on social: @AvaWBAL