Protect Your Pets Over the Fourth of July Holiday

Every year around Independence Day, Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) takes in many pets that ran away after being frightened by fireworks, or just slipped out with the many holiday guests and gatherings occurring.

In addition to running away, pets can also sustain injuries due to fireworks, according to Mountain View Fire and Rescue. First, a pet may run into traffic and get hit by a car if they get scared from the noise or display. Second, they may have some hearing loss due to the loud noise of the fireworks. Third, they may try to chase or bite a firework which may explode in their face or near them. It is a good idea to ask your vet about emergency animal hospitals that may be open when your normal veterinarian is closed. Many of these facilities are open 24 hours and will even allow you to pre-register your pet so they have medical information on file.

On the toxic potential of fireworks, Donna Mensching, Veterinary Medical Director of the Washington Poison Center (WAPC), said, "Thankfully, most ingestions are limited to mild gastrointestinal upset, but large ingestions of certain ingredients such as chlorates and color-producing metals can be life-threatening.  Always contact your veterinarian or WAPC for more details if your pet ingests fireworks." The WAPC (1-800-222-1222)  is open 24 hours a day at  to help you or your pet.

RASKC offers the following tips in a release distributed this week to reduce the risk of pets running away, and increase the odds of being reunited if their pet does become lost:

• Keep your pet secured indoors in the quietest room of your house while fireworks are audible. You can also try music or television as a distraction. Some pets will stay calmer when placed in a secure crate in a darkened, quiet room.
• If your pet is normally kept outside, bring them inside or put them in the garage or basement while fireworks are going off.
• Make sure your pet has at least two forms of identification. This can be a pet license and personalized tag, a license and a microchip, or all three (license, tag, and microchip). Pets with ID have a much greater chance of being returned to their owners.
• Don’t assume that your pet won’t react just because you haven’t had problems in the past. Sometimes, pets become sensitive to loud noises later in life.
• If your pet becomes lost, check in person at all local shelters, and check back often. It may take some time before spooked pets are brought to shelters.
• Use free online services like Petfinder or PetHarbor to post “lost pet” notices, and, where possible, put up “lost pet” posters in the area where your pet went missing.
• Leave your pet at home if you head out to a public fireworks display.

To assist owners who have lost pets, RASKC has joined with Missing Pet Partnership to train volunteers for the “Mission Reunite: Help and Hope for Lost Pets” program. Immediately after the holiday, volunteers will be deployed at the Pet Adoption Center in Kent to help owners looking for their stray pet. In addition, RASKC will keep its “Lost Pet Hotline” up to date. People who are looking for a missing pet can call 206-296-PETS (7387) and press “3” for a list of strays currently at the center.

Editor's Note: Information provided by Regional Animal Services of King County and by Tim Perciful of Mountain View Fire and Rescue.