Keep Your Pets at Home During a Fireworks Show
July 4th is right around the corner, and animal experts are urging pet owners to be mindful of fireworks season.
They point to the annual headlines of brokenhearted families searching for pets that bolted during a fireworks show. These situations are avoidable, the Humane Society of the United States says, posting its annual reminder on how to keep your pets safe during this time of year.
They say that pets and wild animals find fireworks “terrifying.” Animals can suffer fatal health effects due to the stress or bolt from their familiar surroundings to get away from them.
To keep your pets safe, the Humane Society recommends keeping them away from fireworks because they’re sensitive to bright flashes, loud noises and strong smells. The society also suggests keeping your pets indoors and turning on a television or radio to dampen the loud sounds.
When it comes to extra nervous pets, the Humane Society says it’s best to contact your veterinarian for additional tips and to create the best plan to keep them safe.
The organization adds your car is a dangerous place to keep your pet and is not a substitute for the indoors. “The temperature outside may be a balmy 72 degrees, but the temperature inside a closed vehicle can rocket to a fatal 116 degrees in less than an hour,” they warn.
In addition, the organization reminds pet owners to make sure the information on their fur baby’s IDs, tags and microchips are up to date. They add pets should always be wearing their collars as it increases their chances of reunion.
They note of pets breaking windows and doors to escape because they were so frightened by fireworks. Should your pet get loose, they recommend contacting your local animal control and shelters immediately.
