The Fourth of July, better known as Independence Day, is a long-time cherished federal holiday which celebrates now 245-years of freedom since the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The holiday has become associated with many modern traditions, such as parades, barbeques, and firework displays. Although not everyone enjoys that last one, particularly the furry four-legged members of the family.
The firework portion of the holiday has posed a common concern for pet owners – the comfort and safety of their pets. The loud, bright nature of fireworks tends to be too much for dogs and cats, causing them to shake, cry, hide, or even run away from home. According to Edwina Sanchez, Co-Director for the Grants Animal Care Center, the intake of animals during the Fourth of July holiday is more “high volume” than usual. Many animals get spooked from the fireworks and are brought into the animal shelter the next day.
Sanchez, who worked as an Animal Control Officer for the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office for eight years and has been with the Grants Animal Care Center for seven months, provided pet owners with these suggestions of extra precautions they can take to keep their pets safe: “I know we provide microchips… we do engraved name tags that can attach to collars, with the animal’s name and then the phone number and address on the back, which is helpful you know, if they are picked up by animal control or brought in by a citizen, we can notify the owners.”
Sanchez also suggested making sure that all fences around the yard are properly secured, with all ways of escaping taken care of. Sanchez also mentioned possibly considering using a kennel to place pets in during the Fourth of July evening. “We more or less ask that [pet owners] could just take [their pets] in for the night. Just kennel them or put them in a room for the night… and then the next day hopefully everything will be back to good. But that’s just the main thing is try to keep them in or [have] someone be home with them. Make sure they have a secure kennel or cable, not a chain, but something to keep them secure and feel safe,” explained the co-director.
If pet owners have plans away from the home during the Fourth of July evening, a good idea might be to turn on the television, radio, or “just something that [the pets] are kind of used to,” suggested Sanchez. Pet owners should also turn on the lights and close the curtains so that the pets are not as bothered by the flashing of the lights through any windows. Finally, pet owners, especially if there is a specific owner that the pet is bonded to, can leave a piece of clothing or something that has the owners scent with the pet wherever they may be staying so that the familiarity comforts them. Having treats and toys available can also be used to occupy the pets.
Sanchez also provided advice for those who may come across any lost or scared animals during or after the Fourth of July holiday. “Don’t approach it if it’s growling or seems aggressive… whether you’re trying to help it or not. If it’s in your backyard and if you don’t have a problem securing it, leave it there so it can just have a little sense of security. And then just call the dispatch because of course, we’ll be closed for the holiday, so if they need to get a hold of an animal control officer, they need to call the regional dispatcher and they’ll send an officer out. That goes for after hours as well, any time of the day.”
Sanchez understands that during and even after the Fourth of July, many animals can go missing while pet owners are at work, at school, or simply away from home and not discover their pets are missing until they get home. Therefore, Sanchez said that if it is after hours when pet owners need assistance in searching for their pets or a citizen comes across a lost pet, the best thing for them to do is call the regional dispatch. The number for the regional dispatcher is 505-287- 9476.