In July of 2014, Pet Hub created and established Lost Pet Prevention Month as a means of giving pet parents resources and tools to prevent their pets from getting lost as well as tips on how to get them back quickly if they do happen to get lost. The reason they chose the month of July is because July 5th happens to be the busiest day for pet shelters. Why? Well, because of July 4th fireworks. So many pets run away from home in fear of the loud fireworks and sadly, many of those pets are never reunited with their families. In fact, PetHub reports that “According to the National Council of Pet Population Study & Policy and the National Humane Society, a family pet is lost every two seconds in North America. The organizations also report that more than 10 million pets are lost each year and one out of three pets will be lost during its lifetime. However, only one in 10 pets is found.”
While not ALL pets are disturbed by fireworks, most are and here are some signs you can watch for to determine if your pet is feeling the stress of the holiday.
While not ALL pets are disturbed by fireworks, most are and here are some signs you can watch for to determine if your pet is feeling the stress of the holiday.
- Panting
- Drooling
- Pacing
- Hiding
- Decreased Appetite
- Abnormal urinations and defecations
- Dilated pupils
- Excessive grooming
If you notice your pet exhibiting any of these behaviors, take the following precautions to keep them.
TIPS FOR KEEPING PETS SAFE
- Keep your pets indoors. Typically, fireworks begin a few days prior to the 4th and will often extend beyond that day. If this is the case where you live, plan to keep your pet indoors during this time. This will help them feel much more secure. When they do need to be outside, make sure they are in a secure area where it will not be easy for them to get out.
- Keep them on a leash when out. If you plan to walk your dog, make sure they are leashed at all times. Most dogs are leashed when walking however, some are not, but during this time it’s important that they are. The loud, sudden noises of fireworks can be traumatizing to them and cause them to run.
- Make sure their pet IDs are up to date. Make sure both dogs and cats have tags that can be read and that they are micro-chipped. If your pets have not been micro-chipped, make an appointment with your vet to get that done. That provides an extra measure of safety for your pet should they get lost.
Source: Lost Cats and Dogs: Your Pets versus the 4th of July
Should your pet happen to make a run for it during the celebrations, make a point to quickly alert neighbors and post pictures of your pet listing all the pertinent information as well as how to get in touch with you.
OTHER OPTIONS FOR SAFETY
Some people find that their pets are helped greatly by Thunder Shirts. Thunder Shirts are an actual shirt that your cat or dog can wear that is designed to keep them calm. These are available at most local pet stores and online as well.
The most important thing to remember, especially around the 4th of July, is to make your pet feel comfortable and secure. This may mean keeping them enclosed in a quiet room, such as your laundry room during the fireworks. It can also be helpful to provide some “white noise” such as a fan or music. This can be helpful in minimizing the noise they hear from the fireworks.
This is a link to an infographic that may be a good thing to post with the blog or just use for Social media
https://www.pethub.com/article/your-pet-vs-4th-july-fire-works-infographic
