Adoptable (Official) Georgia Dogs for July 3, 2019

Freedom is a mixed breed mama dog (along with her five puppies) who is available for adoption from the Bainbridge – Decatur County Humane Society in Bainbridge, GA.

Freedom is a young male Labrador Retriever mix who is available for adoption iva courtesy post from Doggie Harmony in Decatur, GA.

Freedom is a young female Labrador Retriever mix who is available for adoption from the Clayton County Humane Society in Jonesboro, GA.

Freedom was found at Animal Control on deaths doorstep, her owner moved away and left her tied to a tree without food, water or shelter. She was taken directly to the vet where they weighed her on a baby scale. She was a whole 33 pounds and is now close to 50 pounds. She needs some training and would do best in a home with someone who is willing to work with her. Freedom is not trustworthy around small children.

Fireworks in the coming days will cause many dogs to escape their homes, according to the Augusta Chronicle.

To avoid a lost pet, owners who are planning on going to view fireworks should leave their animals at home. Arthurs said animals should be kept inside in a room with the blinds closed so they cannot see the fireworks. To minimize the sound, pet owners should have a TV on or play ambient music.

“Most of the dogs that escape are animals that were allowed to go outside and they don’t see this everyday, they don’t think about the boom and the bang,” Arthurs said.

“If you go to view the fireworks, leave your dog at home and inside,” she said.

Along with July 4, Columbia County Animal Services manager Linda Glasscock said New Year’s Eve and when children get out of school are also times when the shelter sees an increase in pets. She said making sure an animal has a form of identification on them, whether a collar or a microchip with correct information, can be crucial in returning a pet to their owner.

“If they’re lost the best way to find your animal is that microchip,” Glasscock said. “If they’re microchipped and they go into a shelter or a vet’s office they will scan for it.”

Independence Day is the top time for dog escapes, according to The Brunswick News.

“Unfortunately, the week of the Fourth of July is the heaviest week of the year as far as pets getting loose,” said Tiffani Hill, Glynn County Animal Control manager. “So for animal control, it’s our most difficult time of the year.”

Roy Scarborough, the South Coastal Georgia Humane Society’s staff behaviorist, backed up the claim.

“There’s a significant number of animals that go missing every year during the Fourth of July because they’re frightened and run away,” Scarborough said. “It’s the worst time of the year simply because of the environment, as well. I mean, it’s 99 degrees outside, and that’s pretty much normal. Dogs that are used to being inside can really suffer in the heat.

“We don’t really recommend taking your dog to a fireworks display. Some dogs are fine, but a lot of dogs back right out of their collars and are gone because they’re scared to death of the fireworks.”

“We need to be thinking ahead now for what’s coming up,” Scarborough said. “If you plan to have your dog outside in a fireworks area, or in a neighborhood with a prevalence of fireworks … you want to make sure your dog has a collar with a tag on it with their name and your phone number, at the minimum. I highly recommend they have a microchip, because collars get lost.”

Certified therapy dogs joined children for reading time at the Marshes of Glynn Library, according to The Brunswick News.

An ideal reading partner is a patient listener who is happy to be there.

Therapy dogs brought all these wonderful qualities Tuesday to the Brunswick library for a summer session of the “Reading to the Dogs” program.

Owners of dogs certified through Therapy Dogs International brought their well-trained pets to the event, where children could sit beside these furry friends and read books aloud.

“A lot of children are reluctant to read aloud to grownups, because our tendency is, every time they make a mistake, to correct them,” said Karen Larrick, program coordinator for Marshes of Glynn Libraries. “… Or sometimes we don’t give them the time that they need, and we fill in the blanks for them before they can have time to figure it out on their own. Dogs don’t do that. They’re patient listeners, and they let you do it your way. If you mispronounce a word, they’re OK with it.”

Reading to the Dogs is one of many programs the Marshes of Glynn Libraries offers to encourage youth to read during their summer vacation and keep their minds engaged before they return to school.