The unsettling noise of fireworks could make animals to seek safety and often run away.
While most Americans will celebrate the nation's 250th birthday this weekend, the Independence Day may be one of the least favorite holidays for pets, animals in shelters and volunteers.
Although fireworks are fun and celebratory, the sound of the explosives often triggers animals to seek safety by running away or looking for a place to hide, prompting many pets to escape their homes and get lost. In Riverside County alone, over 1,200 dogs and cats were admitted to shelters during last year's Fourth of July weekend.
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WATCH HERE"It's just a traumatic time for them," Kevin McManus with Pasadena Humane said. "With fireworks and just the chaos that entails, a lot of animals go missing."
After an overwhelming number of pets arrive at shelters during the Fourth of July holiday, only about 20% of them were returned to their owner, according to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.
Here's what pet owners should do during the holiday:
- Do make sure your pet is wearing an ID tag with a visual phone number.
- Do update the contact information if your pet is microchipped.
- Do stay home with pets during fireworks.
- Do comfort them with their favorite toys, blanket.
- Do play music, white noise or podcasts to distract them
- Do close the windows to reduce the impact of fireworks' thundering sound.
Here's what pet owners should not do during the holiday:
- Do not take your pets to fireworks shows.
- Do not leave pets unattended outside.
- Do not leave anxious animals home alone.
What to do if animals are lost:
- Check everywhere as quickly as possible
- Check lost animal database, such as Petco's Love Lost.
- Check social media groups, such as Facebook community pages, and NextDoor.
