While fireworks are a joy for people on the Fourth of July, for pets they can spark terror.
Jennifer Lafountain, volunteer and community engagement manager with Heritage Humane Society, said it’s not uncommon for pets to run away around the Fourth of July due to fireworks displays. Commotion like thunder and lightning might not scare a pet normally, but fireworks displays exhibit a different and unfamiliar sound for animals.
“It’s just a noise they rarely hear,” she said. “Thunderstorms are more common, but for a lot of animals [fireworks] are something they’ve never heard of and their instinct is to be nervous.”
And when pets get nervous, they run.
Lafountain said dogs typically try to hide in a corner or find some way to get away from the noise and so often they’ll squeeze through or jump over fences, even if they’ve never done so before.
Cats will experience a similar reaction. However, since most cats are indoor pets they might be less likely to get out of the house.
Lafountain said Heritage Humane gets a lot of strays around this time of year, partially due to the fireworks. But not all runaway pets find their way to a shelter which is why Lafountain said it is so important for owners to have their pets microchipped.
“We air on the side of caution for the Fourth [of July] because it’s different for the pets,” she said. “The big thing we tell people is microchipping is so important, because we get animals in without ID tags and it’s harder for that pet to get reunited.”
The American Veterinary Medical Association also recommends taking a photo of a pet prior to the holiday weekend in case it runs away.
Between the time a pet runs away from home and is found, a number of different dangers can present themselves and the pet might end up getting hurt.
“The tough part is, it’s not just all pets that run away immediately come to the shelter,” she said. “Some dogs’ instinct is to run and hide in the woods, some are friendly and will go up to the first person they meet. It’s the risk of knowing where your animal will go or how long it will take them to encounter a person that can help them.”
But there are preventative measures to make sure a pet doesn’t run away in the first place.
Lafountain recommends pet owners put on background noise when fireworks are happening near their home. This can be done with a television or music and it helps to drown out the sound of the fireworks.
Pets will also feel safer if they are in a comfortable location, such as a fluffy bed. Pet owners can also place an item of their own clothing in the spot so that way the animal can smell them and feel safer.
The American Veterinary Medical Association also recommends if an owner is hosting guests, to ask them to keep an eye on the pet during the event. It is also a good idea to keep your pet inside or consider a pet sitter if an owner does not plan to be home.
After the fireworks and celebrations have passed, Lafountain said anyone whose pet has run away should immediately contact local shelters, including Heritage Humane Society. For those who find a stray pet, they should also bring them to a shelter because it is likely their owners are looking for them.
“If someone has lost a pet or found a pet, we have information and resources to reconnect them,” Lafountain said. “We are a resource and want to help people.”
For more information, visit the Heritage Humane Society online.
