Protect Your Pets From Too Much Fourth Of July Fun, Toms River PD Says

TOMS RIVER, NJ — If you're a new pet owner — or perhaps someone who's never experienced the Fourth of July with a fearful animal — the Toms River Police Department is urging you to take care to protect your pets this week.

Fireworks displays with their loud explosions can be very disturbing to animals, and the scares they get lead to more animals going missing around the Fourth than at any other time of year, according to Petfinder.com.

The police department shared tips from Petfinder, which helps shelters and rescues connect animals with loving homes, for keeping your pets safe during this holiday:

• Be sure your dog is wearing an up-to-date and visible ID tag on its collar at all times.
• Take a current photo of your dog just in case.
• Exercise your dog early in the day before the parties begin.
• During barbecues or cookouts, ask guests who play with your dog to do it away from the flames.
• Keep fireworks, sparklers, and glow sticks away from curious pets.
• Keep dog treats handy so guests can offer them instead of human food.
• Leave your dog at home if you're attending a fireworks display.
• Turn on soft music to muffle the noise of fireworks.

There's also a quick way to give your dog an anti-anxiety wrap to help reduce the impact of the acoustics of fireworks noises. This do-it-yourself wrap should work in a pinch.

Image via Morguefile