No holiday uses more fireworks than the Fourth of July. If thunderstorms and other loud sounds easily frighten your pets, the Fourth of July can be a scary time for them.
While legal in Florida, loud fireworks like mortars can cause pets to run out of the house into the streets, which helps to make July 5 the busiest day of the year for many animal shelters.
According to the American Humane society, shelters take in more pets that ran off from the night before either frightened or exhausted and often found miles from home that day than any other.
Here’s how to keep your pets safe from the noise and the sparks as the United States lights up its skies to mark Independence Day.
During fireworks, keep your dogs, pets indoors
West Palm Beach police urge pet owners to keep their animals inside and away from loud noises to prevent distress or escape.
Fireworks are fun to watch but your pets need love and attention. Keep them near you so they feel safe, give them pets or cuddles as you watch the fireworks.
Keep your pets distracted
It’s the perfect day to buy them their favorite treat or a new toy and have them focus on that as much as possible, instead of the spectacles in the streets.
Make sure the world knows they’re yours: use a visible tag on collar
Make sure they are wearing a visible tag on their collar at all times. Proper identification will increase the chances of a safe return home.
The tag should include your cellphone number and, if space allows, the number of an out-of-town contact.
Have records showing they belong to you
Take clear, color photos (front, left and right sides) of you and your pet together, in case of ownership disputes — and store these with your pet’s license, medical records and ownership papers in a waterproof carrier to take with you.
Take photos with your cellphone so they’re stored there as well.
Secure your yard to prevent escapes
Close all fences and gates to help prevent animals escaping from your home during the fireworks. This goes back to keeping pets indoors.
How to keep your dog calm during fireworks: Talk to your veterinarian on a possible sedative
Consult your veterinarian ahead of time to determine if a sedative may be appropriate for particularly anxious pets or livestock.
Francesca Abarca is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at fabarca@gannett.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Don’t let fireworks upset your pets: Follow these tips to keep them safe this July 4th
Reporting by Francesca Abarca, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
