It's More Important to be Cautious This 4th of July Than Ever

Independence Day is a dangerous time for pets. The terrifying boom of fireworks send many cats and dogs into a panic as they try to flee the source of the noise. The result is a surge of lost pets, heartbroken pet parents, and animals impounded at shelters. July 5th is well known to be the busiest day for animal shelters.

With the current extreme overcrowding crisis being experienced in shelters throughout the country, it is particularly important that we keep our companion animals securely indoors. We need to do this not only for the benefit of each of them, but also for the hundreds of cats, dogs, rabbits, etc. already in our shelters who could be euthanized to make room for a flood of new arrivals. Even when a lost pet is reunited with their family from a shelter, their short stay there may have cost another animal’s life.

And of course, running the streets in fear makes pets vulnerable to traffic, predators, and accidents.
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Keep your pets safe and out of the shelter this Fourth of July:

• Securely lock all doors and windows
• Shut windows, even those with screens or bars, to minimize the sound of fireworks
• Muffle the sound of fireworks by playing music or turning on the television
• For cats, you can use a calming collar and pheromone sprays or plug-in diffusers
• Be sure to ID your pet - microchips are the best form of ID, but a collar with tags is a good added layer of protection