Your pet afraid of fireworks? Here's how to keep them safe for the Fourth of July
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Set us as preferred The Fourth of July is freedom day, but if you’re not paying attention, the celebrations might land your furry friends in a shelter kennel.According to Elizabeth Oreck, senior manager of community programs for Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles, more lost pets are brought to Los Angeles-area shelters on July 5 than on any other day.
“It’s the biggest intake day of the year,” Oreck said.Here’s how to keep your dog or cat safe at home during the holiday, and what to do if you lose your pet or find someone else’s.The best way to keep your pet safe is to prevent them from leaving the house at all, Oreck said.She recommended pet owners learn the schedule of any nearby fireworks shows and make sure their pet is inside ahead of time — loud noises or bright, flashing lights could scare them away.But impromptu shows from your neighbors — which could be illegal — are harder to plan around.
Set your dog or cat up in a cozy room with the windows and blinds secured.Play soft music to drown out fireworks blasts and give your pet something to do, like putting treats inside an interactive toy, to keep them calm and happy.If your pet does get out, their best chance of getting home is through someone reading the information on their microchip or tag, Oreck said.
“A microchip is only as valuable as the information is up to date,” Oreck said.Microchips are relatively cheap and are required for every pet in Los Angeles County over 4 months old.
A vet inserts a small chip about the size of a grain of rice under your pet’s skin that can be scanned in case they are lost.If your pet already has a microchip, make sure the information is up to date; sometimes, even pets with microchips can’t be identified because the phone number associated with them has been disconnected.
L.A.Animal Services pro...