It’s 4th of July weekend and as I sit in my living room listening to fireworks go off, our dogs are calm and relaxed. That’s not the case for most pets however. Many pets are scared and stressed from the loud noises they hear. As a pet owner, you should know about the dangers of fireworks and pets.

More pets are lost on July 4th than any other day of the year and the busiest day for pet shelters is July 5th, as lost pets end up there. It’s difficult to completely shield them from the noises. As a pet owner though, there’s a lot you can do to ensure your pet is safe.

Here are 10 tips to keep your pet safe this 4th of July:

1. If you’re going to see a fireworks display, leave the pets at home. There’s no reason to take your pets to see fireworks, they will hate the noise!
2. Keep your pets indoors. This is the easiest way to make sure they don’t run away. If you are having company over for a barbeque, keep the pets isolated to an area where they can’t escape when guests enter and exit the house.
3. Keep the party away from your pet. If you are entertaining, make sure the pets are kept away from anything that could harm them such as fireworks, charcoal, glow sticks, insect repellant and table food.
4. Keep the windows closed and turn on the air conditioner. This is another way to lock out the sound of the fireworks.
5. Create your own “noise.” No I’m not talking fireworks. Whether it’s turning on the TV or putting on some music, you can create a barrier so that the noise of the fireworks outside won’t be as loud to your pet.
6. Take your dog out early. Ensure your dog gets their evening exercise prior to the fireworks starting.
7. Make sure your pet can be identified in the event that they are lost.  Your pet should have a collar that is snug so that they can’t slip out of it and the collar should have an ID tag. Pets should also be microchipped so if they should get out of their collar, a vet or shelter can identify them. If your pet is microchipped, make sure your contact information is up to date.
8. Take a current photo of your pet.  If your pet is lost, you can post on social media or use for posters. There are many local Facebook groups specifically for lost pets.
9. Find the pet yourself.  Technology has made it easier to keep track of everything, including your pet. Whistle has a unique collar for dogs that has GPS built in so that you can track where they are with your smartphone. It even has cool features like an exercise tracker (think Fitbit for dogs), health tracker and “connected caretakers” so that if you’re away, your friends, neighbors or your pet sitter can also be alerted.
10. Hire a pet sitter to stay with your pet. 4th of July weekend is also one of the busiest travel times of the year, so if you can’t be with your pet, make sure someone else is. Pet sitters are expertly trained to handle the stress related to fireworks and other noises. Many pet sitters (including us) also offer overnight visits where they will spend the entire night with your pets, your pets will feel safe and secure at home.

Do you have any other suggestions?  Let us know by checking out our Facebook page!  Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

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