9 pet safety tips for the Fourth of July

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The Fourth of July can be a great holiday for humans, but a stressful day for many pets.

KUSA – The Fourth of July can be a great holiday for humans, but a stressful day for many pets who may become frightened by the bright lights and loud sounds of fireworks.

Tripswithpets.com shared nine ways to keep your pet safe during Independence Day.

  1. Do not take your pet to fireworks displays.
  2. Do not leave your pet alone in the car.
  3. Pets can suffer serious health effects, even death, in a few short minutes. Unfortunately, partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but they do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.
  4. Keep your pets in a comfortable and quiet area during Fourth of July festivities. If your pet is crate trained, then their crate is a great choice.
  5. Be sure that you remove any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep your pet company if you won’t be home.
  6. If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.
  7. If your pet seeks comfort in a bath tub, under a bed or other small space, let them. Do not try to lure them out. If the space is safe and it makes them feel more secure, let them be.
  8. Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn’t leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.
  9. Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags, so that if they become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners.

“The July 4 holiday is a very busy time for animal shelters across the U.S,” according to Tripswithpets.com. “[Shelters] report taking in a higher number dogs that run off during firework festivities. In addition, many police stations log higher volumes of stray dog calls and barking complaints on July 4th compared to any other day of the year.”

(KUSA-TV © 2014 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)

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