Fourth of July is right around the corner, and while it may be a summer celebration for us – it can be much more stressful for our pets. Fireworks will soon be fired off and our pets will be desperate to flee. It’s the bangs, pops and colors, which can be traumatizing for most animals.
"It's loud, and dogs don't like loud noises," said Kate Fields, Humane Society of Greater Kansas City President.
Now, the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City is prepping for one of their busiest times of the year.
"We brace ourselves for Fourth of July," said Fields. "It's an awesome time, and we're very patriotic but we worry about the animals."
More pets are lost on the Fourth of July than any other time of the year, and you don't want to spend your holiday searching for your four legged friend.
"The following days, the 5th, the 6th, the 7th, people have picked up dogs who have broken away, who have run away because they're scared," said Fields.
Fields says dogs will do anything to get away, sometimes even injuring themselves.
"We've seen dogs that have been inside and break through windows to get out," said Fields.
The best thing you can do to ensure your pets safety this holiday is to bring them inside.
"Fourth of July, the 3rd, the 4th, the 5th, bring your dogs in," said Fields. "It just makes sense, and they don't want to be outside around all of that."
Because of their heightened sense of hearing, the noises cause the most anxiety. Thundershirts (anxiety vests designed to calm dogs) and sedatives can be used to help, but Fields suggests doing something simple to help drown out the sounds.
"A fan running, a TV running, music running, something that they're used to," said Fields.
One dog owner says his first Fourth of July with his furry friend was one to learn from.
"He could not get in the house fast enough, I mean there was no stopping or just dead tracks, it was like 'I'm getting back in the house immediately,'" said dog owner LJ Alvarez.
Now Alvarez's dog sits calmly and comfortably inside his home during firework displays, with breaks in between.
"Do bathroom breaks with a leash when you let them out, whether you have a fence or not, because like I said, when they get scared, they'll run and they'll run, and it's kind of hard to find them sometimes," said Alvarez.
Also be sure your pet has a name tag on its collar with a phone number, so that way whoever finds your pet can reunite them with you right away.
The Humane Society Greater Kansas City also suggests microchipping your dog. They say it's one of the best things you can do. That way, if a pet does escape, they can be reunited with their families. It will cost you $25 at the humane society.
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