4th Of July Fireworks Terrify Pets, Tips To Calm Them

Dogs are part of the family for many of us, and Fourth of July is a stressful, even terrifying, time for our four-legged best buddies. The problems begin when you add fireworks to the mix. The Fourth of July holiday is always busy at animal shelters nationwide.

Fireworks can be terrifying and overwhelming for pets, and possibly hazardous, says the Humane Society of the United States. On the Fourth of July, so many pets are frightened and try to escape the sights and sounds that animal shelters around the nation report a dramatic increase in lost pets during this time.

Here's how you can keep pets safe this holiday:

• Don't take pets to fireworks displays.
• While at home, keep pets inside a room in the house and make sure blinds or drapes are drawn. Leave a TV, radio or fan on to drown out the fireworks noise.
• Make sure pets have current identification and/or a microchip. This permanent form of identification -- implanted just under the animal's skin -- will insure the animal can be identified even if their collar is missing. Microchips are available at PHS/SPCA, no appointment necessary for a small fee.
• If you know from past experiences that your pet will have severe anxiety caused by fireworks, talk to your veterinarian about giving your pet a mild tranquilizer.

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Even pet owners with invisible fences can lose their dog if they get spooked enough from the noise, so better to be safe than sorry. "The noise stresses a lot of dogs so we suggest that everyone keep their dog inside, except for obviously a few leashed walks! -- even if you don't have a noise sensitive dog," says Lisa Bonanno-Spence of the SPCA of Westchester, NY.

Many dog owners have had good luck with a Thundercoat, which wrapped snugly around a dog, can serve as an extra comforting hug.

Lost Dogs Illinois and the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control list the following tips to help pet owners keep their dogs secure during nearby fireworks, parades, and cookouts:

• Exercise will help your dog relax, so take him for a walk and a potty break before the fireworks or festivities begin. Even if you're in your yard, you may want to leash your dog in case of unexpected noise.
• Inspect your fence for openings.
• Create a quiet place for your dog or cat. Make sure it is cool enough, comfortable enough and away from the celebrations. Once you have located the spot, make it off-limits to guests.
• If you're having or attending a cook-out with a pet, remind guests to watch their plates and to properly dispose of their garbage. A steak bone/chicken bone or a corn cob is appetizing but can be deadly to your dog or cat.
• Post notes or signs on back gates or front and rear doors that an animal is present and to be careful to close doors and gates when entering or exiting.
• Make sure that your pet has on its rabies tags for identification purposes and she is wearing a collar and tag with your name and phone number in case of escape. Most pet stores, such as Petco or Petsmart, have machines inside the store where you can make pet ID tags on the spot.

— Patch Editor Lanning Taliaferro contributed to this story; photo via Shutterstock