As El Pasoans prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July, advocates for pets want to remind owners to take precautions to protect their pets.
The holiday is historically the busiest time of year for animal shelters nationwide, with a surge in lost pet reports and stray animals entering shelters between July 4 and July 6.
“Fireworks displays often send frightened cats and dogs scrambling to climb, break or dig their way out of wherever they are in a frantic attempt to escape the chaos and shelters across the country are inundated with animals who fled their homes in terror,” according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
In El Paso, the Animal Services department reports it has already taken in nearly 13,000 pets and expects it to grow during the holiday weekend.
Here are some tips to keep pets safe this 4th of July.
Tips to keep dogs (and cats) safe this 4th of July holiday
What to do if you find a lost pet this 4th of July holiday
Most lost pets are found within a mile of their home. If safe to do so, residents should walk the pet around the neighborhood and ask neighbors if they recognize the animal. If the pet has no visible ID, they can be taken to a nearby veterinary clinic, fire station, or El Paso Animal Services location to be scanned for a microchip.
Anyone who finds a lost pet is also encouraged to post the animal’s photo and a brief description on PetcoLoveLost.org, local Facebook lost-and-found groups, and the NextDoor app. If able to temporarily house the pet for a short period, this greatly increases the likelihood of a quick reunion and prevents the animal from enduring the stress of entering the shelter.
“When a pet goes missing, every minute matters,” said Terry Kebschull, Director of El Paso Animal Services said in a release. “By planning ahead and taking simple actions, families and neighbors can play a vital role in keeping pets safe and ensuring they make it back home.”
For more information on Fourth of July pet safety, reunification resources, and upcoming free microchipping events, visit ElPasoAnimalServices.org.
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Fourth of July is busiest time for animal shelters; Tips to keep pets safe from fireworks
Reporting by Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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