According to the SPCA, more strays and lost pets are turned into the animal shelter days following July 4th than any other time period of the year.
And with Fourth of July around the corner, the SPCA has some tips for you and your pets that will keep them safe and less spooked over the next couple of days.
- Don't take your pet to a fireworks display. Face it, pets are easily spooked by loud noises. Even the calmest pets can panic in a matter of seconds. Pets will take extreme measures to escape from homes and yards.
- Make sure your pet has identification. It is very difficult to reunite a pet with an owner without identification, such as a microchip and or a collar.
- If you have a nervous pet, stay home or find somebody who can house-sit. Odds are if the pet knows you or somebody you trust, stress levels will be lower during fireworks display. Having a radio or TV on will help block some of the noise.
- ThunderShirts help to reduce a dogs anxiety. According to their website, they have an 80 percent success rate.
If your pet gets loose, the SPCA recommends that you visit their Stray Animal Information page. The site includes effective ways to locate a lost pet. You can also visit YourSPCA.org to find contact information on animal control organizations in your local area.
