Have a dog that’s terrified of fireworks, thunderstorms or other loud noises? You’re not alone.

Each year around July 4th, shelters around the US experience an influx of dogs that ran away form home, often hurting themselves in the process.

Luckily, there are several ways to make the 4th (or any stormy night) a bit easier on you and your four-legged family members.

First, keep dogs inside on the 4th but make sure they’re wearing a collar with up to date tags or are micro-chipped just in case - a frightened dog is always a flight risk.

Don’t baby your dog. It’s probably your first instinct but vets advise against it, saying that it validates Fido’s fear. We interpret being comforted as “it will be okay” but your dog hears “you’re right to be afraid.” Don’t fret; attention is okay, just make sure you act as though nothing’s wrong. Reward calm behavior with extra attention. Play with your dog during the noise or give him a new bone just before the fireworks start.

There are several over-the-counter and prescription drugs as well as natural supplements that can help calm frightened dogs. Your vet can prescribe anti-anxiety medication or recommend other options.

Melatonin (available at drug and health food stores) is most often taken by people for insomnia but can be given to both dogs and cats to help calm them. Lots of sites list the dosage for dogs - 6 mg for 100+-lb. dogs; 3 mg for 50-lb. dogs; 1.5 mg for 30-lb. dogs; and 0.5 mg for 10-lb. dogs – but make sure to give your vet a call if you can.

Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise during the day so he’ll be tired at night.

Keep your doors and windows shut if you can, and turn on music or a fan.

You may have to experiment a bit and find out what works for your dog. If all else fails, take your pup for a ride in the car, head as far from the noise as possible, and tell her what an amazing owner she has for giving up a night of fun to make her feel safe!

Via PETA

Your mom wasn’t kidding when she said you had to eat your carrots. Vitamin A deficiency is responsible for the blindness of 350,000 children every year. A lack of vitamin A weakens their developing immune systems and puts them at risk for all kinds of diseases. Vitamin Angels is trying to change that by providing simple and inexpensive vitamins to malnourished children here in the US and around the world.

Recently, our friends at Vitamin Angels traveled to Bolivia to deliver vital nutrients to the children they help there. After making sure the tots got their vitamins, they brought out a SocialVibe pink ball! The kids played catch for more than an hour before the boys started getting a bit rowdy (must have been feeling energized from all those nutrients) and the game was cut short.

Check out this vid they made while they were there, thanking all of you who support the amazing work they do!

How adorable are those kids playing with that pink ball?!

So far, over $13,000 has been raised by Vitamin Angels supporters on SocialVibe. It costs just $1 to provide a child with sufficient vitamin A from birth until age 5, their most vulnerable years. That means that SocialVibe users have provided more 13,000 young children with vital nutrients!

You can earn free donations to prevent blindness and diseases in children here in the US and around the world by supporting Vitamin Angels on SocialVibe!

Daniel Radcliffe (yes, as in ‘Harry Potter’) has long been a champion of gay rights; he’s said in the past that he loathes both homophobia, and the people who foster it. While saying that you hate people that foster hate might seem contradictory, we can totally see where he’s coming from: haters = not cool.

One of Daniel’s fave organizations is SocialVibe partner, The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among young people 15-24 and LGBT people in that group are four times more likely to attempt to take their own lives. The truly heartbreaking part of this is that suicide is preventable.

The Trevor Project operates a free, confidential suicide helpline for LGBT or questioning youth - (866) 4-U-TREVOR. Someone will answer your call 24 hours a day.

You can earn free donations for The Trevor Project by choosing them as your cause on SocialVibe.

So, you know how we've been giving you points for watching Travis McCoy's video "One At A Time" for Staying Alive and uploading pictures of yourselves holding signs with lyrics on it, and telling you how your photos will appear on MTV's jumbotron in Times Square, NY in front of thousands of people? Well, today we've got proof. Check out these glorious photos of SocialVibe members on MTV's digital billboard in Times Square!

By the way, if you think this is good, just wait until you see the video. Coming soon. It's here! Check it out below!

So incredible! Do you see yourself?! A huge thank you to all of you who uploaded a photo in support of Staying Alive.

After the devastating earthquake in Haiti last month, we quickly partnered up with Direct Relief to create a way that SocialVibe members could effectively contribute to the cause. In just under a month, SocialVibe members have been able to go above and beyond that goal, and help Direct Relief provide thousands of dollars worth of medical supplies.

Thanks to you guys and to other Direct Relief partners, the non-profit just shipped an outstanding $15 million worth of emergency and medical aid supplies down to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Here's a special Thank You for SocialVibe members from Jim at Direct Relief!

To keep supporting Direct Relief and earning medical supplies for those in need, choose them as your Cause on SocialVibe now!

Have you got big dreams to change the world but are lacking the funds to do so? The Do Something Awards are celebrating people 25 and under who are tackling a problem and changing the world. One grand prize winner will win $100,000 to help them reach their goal! You can apply yourself or nominate someone else at www.DoSomething.org/awards.

Since 1996, DoSomething.org has honored the nation's best young world-changers, 25 and under. Do Something Award nominees and winners represent the pivotal "do-ers" in their field, cause, or issue. Five nominees will be rewarded with a $10,000 community grant, participation in a live VH1 TV show, media coverage and continued support from DoSomething.org. The grand prize winner will receive $100,000 during the live broadcast!!

You can further support Do Something by choosing them as your Cause on SocialVibe!

So tell us - who are you going to nominate? And how would you use $100,000 to change the world?

It's been quite an incredible few weeks for SocialVibe's most popular cause, To Write Love On Her Arms. Not only did they secure first place in our Givapalooza contest, but they also hosted HEAVY AND LIGHT '09, which you can see a taste of in the video below.

TWLOHA is starting their year off strong and attempting to top their December success by setting an incredible goal on SocialVibe of 450,000 minutes of support. If they meet their goal by midnight on January 31, we'll give them an additional $20,000 that will be used to fund the IMAlive online crisis center! IMAlive would be the first live peer-to-peer suicide prevention service.

I don't think we need to tell you just how huge of a difference that donation could make for the thousands of people in need of support. Help TWLOHA reach their goal this January by completing activities and sharing them with your friends now!

Now, about that amazing HEAVY AND LIGHT footage...

Missed the first show? You can buy tickets to Heavy and Light 2010, January 9th at the House of Blues Orlando through TicketMaster.com here.

Happy Monday everyone! We'd like to quickly address the issue of Pink Ball shipments. Recently, we've been noticing a larger volume of e-mails, tweets and comments from members inquiring about the status of their Pink Ball being shipped out.

If you have already qualified for your Pink Ball, registered for it and have been waiting for its (delayed) arrival, please accept our most sincere apologies. We currently ship all our Pink Balls by hand right from our office. Because of the abundance of Pink Ball requests lately, our shipping process has become a bit backed up. Not to worry, though - we have a huge shipment going out very soon, so your Pink Ball should be at your doorstep shortly.

Once again, we apologize. We are so thrilled that you are that excited about receiving your Pink Ball and can't wait to see the photos you send us! Thanks for your loyalty and support. We appreciate you more than you'll ever know!

With love,
The SocialVibe Team