New England Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms aren't really a rare occurrence throughout the warmer months across the country, but especially in New England. With the stereotypical, ever-changing New England weather pattern, storms can happen at any moment really, considering all the shifting warm and cold fronts.
New England Tornadoes
June 2024 may be remembered for one of the more severe thunderstorm patterns to hit Northern New England, as the entire region was under tornado watch for most of the day, due to extra severe storms rolling through the area.
READ MORE: Maine, NH, Has Had Two Tornado-Related Deaths Since 1950
And although nothing too destructive reportedly happened to property outside of homes, that wasn't necessarily the case for what was happening inside of homes -- a majority of New England pets absolutely freaking out.
Pet Storm Fears
Whether it's fireworks or thunderstorms, while some dogs aren't affected either way, most become terrified from the loud noises.
What can be interesting, though, is that it may not always be that way, and severe storms throughout the area may have proven that.
When I first adopted my dog Remy, we were in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tornado alley. Basically, the land of intense storms. And when he was a young puppy, he couldn't be less bothered by storms, to the point that I vividly remember one storm in particular with such powerful claps of thunder that they were shaking the apartment building.
Remy -- only a few months old at the time -- just laid there through the entire storm like a slug, sleeping through the entire thing.
But fast forward from that point, moving back home to New England, and experiencing thunderstorms since. Admittedly, other than that June 2024 storm, much weaker than the one just described above in Tulsa.
Nevermind when the thunder actually claps, even the shift in sky from light to dark and the scent of incoming rain in the air, and he's already shaking slightly. And it only intensifies when the storm rolls in with heavy panting being added to the mix, eventually leading him to hop out from under the blanket he's wrapped in to cower behind the couch.
ASPCA Pet Tips
Essentially, like with humans, it seems as though as some pets age, what once was not an issue develops into a possible fear (as in perhaps when this writer had no problem jumping off a garage roof when he was younger, but now gets jello legs if he has to be on top of one for whatever reason.)
And that assumption is slightly supported by the ASPCA, who mention that,
Storm phobias can and may worsen with time.
A list of tips, including working with your veterinarian or possibly trying different medications available, can be found on the ASPCA website.
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