Local professional shares tips on how to keep your pets safe during Fourth of July

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The sound of fireworks can be fun for us on the Fourth of July, but terrifying for our pets. Experts say an ID tag and keeping them inside can prevent such a frantic search.

“Animals don’t know what’s going on, they don’t know that these festivities are happy; they just hear a loud boom, and they want to run and hide,” said Jen Hollas, Communications and Events Manager at Companion Animal Alliance.

The Fourth of July celebration can stress out our furry friends, but there are ways to keep them safe. Holla shares some tips.

“The best thing you can do is provide a safe space for your animals, bring them inside, if possible, turn on a TV or a radio, and block out those noises as best as possible,” said Hollas.

Fireworks can also lead to pets running away, so it’s important to keep ID tags and microchip information up to date.

“If your pet is microchipped, make sure that microchip information is updated, just in case they do go missing, someone will be able to contact you and let you know where your pet is,” she said.

And for new pet owners, this is not just a one-day thing. Make your house secure all week and keep your pets inside away from the noise, and if you keep your dog outside, make sure your fencing is secure.

“Expect to be prepared the entire weekend, so have that safe space prepared for your pet,” said Hollas. ‘Cats and dogs get scared and run, so it’s not just a dog issue. If you have fencing in your yard, make sure that the fencing is secure so they can’t get through that.”

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