4th of July Pet Safety Tips

Did you know that July 5th is the busiest day of the year for the majority of animal shelters in the United States? This is due to the large amount of lost animals who have run away from their homes in fear during fireworks on 4th of July. I love 4th of July, but now that we have pets, I’m learning more about keeping our pets safe on this loud evening. For us, the loud bangs and booms from the fireworks are exciting and thrilling, but for our pets, it can mean a whole different thing. This includes fear and confusion, which may ultimately lead to our furry family members getting hurt, or worse, death. So, how can we keep our pets safe on 4th of July? Check out these 4th of July Pet Safety Tips.

1 – Leave pets inside. We enjoyed 4th of July a day early and I saw first hand the fear and confusion that little fireworks could cause a small dog. He was curious, but afraid at the same time, so we put him in the house. This protected him from the loud bangs, booms and whistles coming from the exploding fireworks. While fireworks are exploding on the property, it’s especially important to have your pets inside. If you have pets on your property (like dogs or cats) and are not setting off fireworks, but there are fireworks going off around you, a dog door is a great option to have. It’s great because your dogs can seek refuge in the house if the fireworks do scare them. If you’re out for the 4th of July, you can consider putting your pet in a cat boarding or City Dog Country Boarding facility. If keeping your dogs inside the house, you may also consider pulling the curtains closed. If your dog seems to be stressed or anxious, you may need to bring him to a dog care clinic.

2 – Safe and comfortable place for your pet to retreat. Be sure to have a comfortable place where your pet can feel safe and secure. If you have a dog that is crate trained, they may do best in the crate, while a cat may do well in a bathroom with their litter box. If you have an outside pet (like a farm dog or horse), try securing them in the stable or barn.

3 – Keep windows and doors closed. It may help reduce stress and anxiety in your pet if you keep the windows and doors closed. If it is a warm day, have fans going to keep it cool.

4 – Take a photo of your pet. While we don’t want to imagine our pets going missing, having a current photo of your pet would help neighbors, vets and animal shelters be able to locate your animal.

5 – Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and ID tag. You can get these for an affordable cost at your local pet store. This is a huge help if your pet does get out and neighbors find him or her and can easily contact you.

6 – Microchip your pet. Be sure to get your pet microchipped if he or she is not already. A microchip is a small identifier the size of a grain of rice that is injected into the subcutaneous layer of your pet‘s skin. If you have already microchipped your pet, be sure your contact information is up-to-date. All veterinary hospitals and animal shelters are equipped with microchip scanners which can link the number on the chip to the your registered information on file.

7 – Pet sitter or kennel. If you’re traveling out of town for the holiday, consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with your pets at home or boarding them at the best dog boarding in Melbourne.

What do you do to keep your pets safe on 4th of July?