Neighborhood Fireworks Spark Concern for Pet Safety

Best Friends Animal Society has a few pet safety tips to help ease your pets’ anxiety this holiday weekend.

Animals, especially dogs, can have a phobic reaction to fireworks and other loud sights and sounds. Their reactions may show signs of extreme anxiety. Dogs have been known to dig under or jump over fences, break tethers, or even shatter windows in response to their fireworks fears.

For these reasons, it’s more important than ever that pet parents take precautions to keep their furry family members home, comfortable, and safe this weekend.

Not So Friendly Fire: Things to Keep in Mind For Your Pet

Best Friends Animal Society offers the following tips to help keep pets safe around July 4th. Keep in mind that in many areas, it’s legal to light fireworks a few days before, on the holiday, and a few days after.

• Bring all pets indoors whenever neighborhood fireworks displays are likely. Secure dogs in a room, close windows and curtains, and play loud music or turn on the television to drown out the frightening sounds. Some experts even suggest playing a war movie to blend the sound from the TV with the sounds from outside.
• Plan ahead so that dogs who are extremely anxious can take a stress-relief supplement, wear a calming coat, or even use prescription anti-anxiety medications from a veterinarian.
• Keep pets away from lit fireworks at all times, including your own backyard. Some pets will chase after the bright moving objects and are at risk to be burned or blinded in the process.
• Ensure that pets are wearing current identification tags, and make sure your correct contact info is recorded with the vet clinic or shelter.
• Remember what to do if your pet does go missing over the holiday. Contact local animal shelters immediately and keep checking back. Also check social media to see if someone nearby has posted about the lost pet. Walk the neighborhood to look for found pet flyers. Put up your own flyers with a good description and photo of the pet. Keep looking and don’t give up.