4th of July Safety

Keep Your Pet Safe on the Fourth of JulyIndependence Day is right around the corner. Ask any person that works in animal rescue or your local shelter, and they will tell you it is the BUSIEST time of the year. When the fireworks start to go off, pets get scared and look for any escape. Here are some helpful hints to keep your pet safe and secure:

1. Don't take them to a fireworks show, leave them home and preferably with a person
2. Provide a safe and secure place for them. If they are crate trained, leave them in the comfort of their crate. If you don't have a crate, an enclosed, cool room can help
3. Keep all windows and doors closed to prevent them from escaping through them and to minimize the noise
4. Make sure your pet has a good fitting collar with license and ID tags
5. Make sure your pet is microchipped, and that the current contact info is up to date
6. When letting your dog outside to use the restroom, you may need to leash them to prevent them from bolting
7. Leave the TV/radio turned on for them to help desensitize your pet
8. If needed, look into investing in an anxiety reducing pet wrap like a thundershirt
9. A trip to your vet to look into anti-anxiety medication may be necessary 
10. Be aware that in some areas, the fireworks start several days before the 4th, and may continue for several days after
11. Keep a light on to help the pet feel secure
12. Keep your pet secure and confined the night of the fireworks show, and do a yard sweep prior to letting them out to look for things they could eat like sticks from bottle rockets or sparklers
13. Fireworks tend to start going off 1-2 weeks before, and a week after the 4th of July so remember to be diligent during this time

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