The Town Lake Animal Center needs rawhide bones and chews to help keep the more than 300 dogs in its care calm and safe on July 4th.

The noise and lights of the fireworks display just down the street can cause a great deal of stress for the dogs at the shelter. Shelter managers are asking for people to bring rawhide chew treats and toys for the dogs.

“Chewing can be a healthy way for dogs to relieve stress, and fireworks can cause a great deal of stress for a dog,” says Dorinda Pulliam, shelter director. “By providing all the dogs at the shelter with natural rawhide treats, we can help re-direct their nervous energy away from potentially dangerous activities-- like attempting to jump or dig to escape their kennels-- to the healthier, safer activity of chewing on rawhide.”

Although ingesting a great deal of tough rawhide can be hard on a dog’s digestive system, experts say the rewards of providing chews to the dogs during stressful times outweigh the minor risks the chews might pose.

Natural rawhide treats of all shapes and sizes are needed, and can be dropped off at the Town Lake Animal Center during business hours: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Town Lake Animal Center is located at 1156 W. Cesar Chavez, between MoPac and Lamar on the north side of Town Lake.