4th Of July 2021: Tips For Keeping Your Pets Safe From Fireworks

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — Across America, the Fourth of July is usually a day of celebration, grilling, lounging by the pool and capping off the night with fireworks, all in the company of our friends and family.

But for our pets, it's often not a day to celebrate.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association and LifeLine Animal Project, fireworks displays can be frightening, disorienting or possibly dangerous for animals. The sound of fireworks can not only make our furry friends anxious or scared, but can even startle them and cause them to run away.

LifeLine says the following suggestions may be helpful in keeping your pets safe this Fourth of July holiday:

1. Don't take pets to fireworks displays.
   No matter how social dogs are, a loud, crowded fireworks display will scare and confuse them. Please leave pets at home.
2. Keep pets inside the house.
   Since dogs’ hearing is much more sensitive than ours, bringing them indoors to a safe space will help them feel protected. If your pets are crate-trained, the crate is an ideal safe space. Otherwise, confine them to one room, close doors and windows and leave some soft music on in the background to comfort them.
3. Never leave pets outside and unattended.
   Fireworks may stress dogs so much that they will try to jump the fence or dig under it to get away from the perceived threat. Cats may also run away out of fear.
4. Consider a thundershirt or medication.
   If your dogs get anxious during thunderstorms, fireworks will really scare them! Thundershirts work well for some dogs while others do better on sedatives. Ask your vet for medication to calm them or for one that helps with canine noise aversion.
5. Provide a distraction.
   If you’re home during fireworks, break out your dogs’ favorite treats or provide extra cuddle time. If you’re going out, leave a long-lasting, safe treat that will distract them for a while such as a frozen Kong filled with peanut butter.
6. Be prepared.
   Make sure your pets are wearing identification and are microchipped so that you’ll have a better chance of finding them if they do get lost. If your pets aren’t yet microchipped, the LifeLine Community Animal Center offers microchipping for $25.

The AVMA also suggests taking the following precautions for the holiday:

1. Make sure your pets have identification tags with up-to-date information.
   If you have horses, you might consider marking a safety (breakaway) halter with your contact information and leaving it on your horse.
2. Consider microchipping your pet, if possible.
   If your pet is already microchipped, make sure your contact information in the microchip registry is up-to-date.
3. Take a current photo of all your cats, dogs, horses, etc.
   If your pet escapes, this will help others identify them on missing pet flyers and social media posts.
4. Leave your pets at home when you go to parties, fireworks displays, parades and other gatherings.
   Loud fireworks, unfamiliar places and crowds can all be very frightening to pets, and there’s great risk of pets becoming spooked and running away. Keep your pets inside, if possible.
5. Keep your pet in a safe, escape-proof room or crate.
   Additionally, try to keep horses and livestock in safely fenced areas and as far from the noise as possible.

If, despite your best efforts, your pet escapes and becomes lost, you can visit LifeLineAnimal.org/lost-pets for suggestions on what to do right away. If you find a pet, visit LifeLineAnimal.org/found-pets for specific steps to take that will help you find the animal's family.

"With a little preparation, you can keep your pet safe and happy on the Fourth of July," LifeLine said in a news release.