The Fourth of July is a great time for catching up with friends and family but your four-legged family members don’t feel the same.
Many pets go missing during the Fourth of July due to all the loud noise of the fireworks so your best bet may be keeping them indoors. Here's a few tips on how to keep your pets safe thanks to PAWS:
Fireworks
- Keep your pets indoors. Fireworks can cause animals to panic and try to run away, according to PAWS. Animal Control said even putting your dog in a fenced area might not be enough as they’ll try to jump the fence to escape.
- Give pets a safe spot in which to hide, whether it be a room or a crate, according to Animal Control.
- Ambient noise can help mask the boom of the fireworks. Putting on a TV or “comforting music” can help furry family members, according to Animal Control.
- If you’re home, distract your pets by playing with them, Animal Control suggested.
- Even if your animal seems to be OK with the noise from the fireworks, keep your pet away from lit fireworks. They can burn your pets if they’re curious and get too close, according to PAWS.
- Keep your pets away from unused fireworks, too: They can contain potentially toxic substances, according to PAWS.
Parties
- If you’re having a party, make sure your animal is behind a baby gate or in a quiet room that people aren’t walking in and out of to ensure the pet doesn’t escape, according to PAWS.
- Don’t give your pets alcohol: It can kill them or send them into a coma, according to PAWS. Even beer is toxic.
- And don’t give your pets human party food, like grapes or onion-y foods, because those can also be hazardous to dogs and cats, according to PAWS.
Other
- Make sure your animals have their IDs and microchips up to date just in case they do get away.
- Make sure you have a recent photo of your animal that you can you use for signs if your pet does escape, PAWS suggested.
- If you’re going out, don’t leave your animals in the car. Car temperatures can heat up quickly and that heat can kill animals. This Fourth of July might be rainy, but it’ll still be hot.
- It’s not just beer or party snacks that can be bad for your pet this Fourth. Sunscreen, the insecticide DEET, lighter fluid, matches, glow jewelry and citronella can also be dangerous and should be kept from animals, according to PAWS.
How do you prepare your pets for the Fourth of July? Sound off with tips in the comments below:
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