During the fun and fireworks of the 4th of July, the family pet is often forgotten. All those bombs bursting in air may be a great part of the festivities for you, but they can cause a lot of stress for your pet. A lot of very scared animals end up at shelters after the 4th of July. Many of them have become disoriented and lost or get hurt in their panic to get away from the noise. A frightened animal may run for hours or days, get hit by a car, or be injured directly from the fireworks themselves.
Pet owners can do their part to minimize pet panic during the holiday. Make sure you don’t leave your animals outside, especially alone, while fireworks are being discharged. If your pet does get out, be sure to call the shelter immediately. The shelter logs every lost and found phone call and frequently can match owners looking for their lost pets with individuals who have found or rescued a scared and lost animal.
So before the partying begins, think of your furry friends and do the following to keep your pet safe:
- Keep your animals inside and away from any fireworks.
- If your pet is afraid of loud noises, he or she will undoubtedly find the sound of fireworks terrifying. Stay with your pet and make sure she is okay.
- If you know your pet will become hyperactive, destructive, or "bolt" at all the noises, you may want to consider talking to your veterinarian about sedative-type drugs to make the experience less stressful.
- Most importantly, ALWAYS have proper identification on your pet with your current address and phone number. Free ID tags are always available at the shelter, so stop by and pick one up if your pet does not have an ID tag.
A little planning and thoughtfulness on your part can keep you and your pet safe and happy over the holiday.