Oconee Humane Society stresses Pet Safety on 4th of July

While most Americans enjoy Independence Day celebrations, animal shelters across the country begin preparing for an extremely busy time. More pets go missing on the 4th of July than any other day of the year. This means July 5, is often the busiest day for most animal shelters. While fireworks may be fun for people to watch, they terrify pets, says the Oconee Humane Society. The loud noise and flickering lights can cause even normally calm pets to try and get away from the disturbance. This is true for indoor and outdoor pets. The Oconee Humane Society recommends bringing all pets, especially dogs, inside and creating a safe place for them to stay during the 4th of July celebrations. If you can be home with your pet, keep them active with toys and if you are away, play music or the television to keep familiar noises around. Don’t ever take pets to fireworks displays. The summer heat, unfamiliar sights and sounds and crowded venues are all reasons to leave your pet comfortably at home. It is also a good time to ensure pets have ID tags or microchips with current contact numbers. Planning ahead for any celebrations, which include fireworks will help keep pets safe and sound.