Fireworks Can Be Ruff for Pets, How to Keep Them Safe

NEW JERSEY -- While July 4th fireworks lighting up the sky is fun for many families, they can be particularly scary for the furry family members. In fact, the upcoming holiday is the one on which animals are most likely to go missing, according to lost pet finder PetAmberAlert , there is a 30 to 60 percent increase in lost pets at animal shelters each year between July 4 and 6.

To help pet owners through these days Paterson's longtime animal control officer John DeCando offered some tips to keep your pets safe during the upcoming holiday weekend, particularly if your pet is easily scared by loud noises. The Shelter recommends:

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• Don't leave them alone if you are away you’re celebrating, but tf you are home, act calm and give them reassuring pets and hugs.
• Keep pets secured inside the house, dogs in fenced yards can always find ways to escape.
• Use ambient noise such as a radio or TV playing comforting music to mask the noise of fireworks.
• Create a safe place for pets to hide such as a comfortable room or their own crate.
• Keep them busy and distracted with treats and toys.

Other ideas to keep your pet safe and comfortable include talking to your family veterinarian about calming supplements or medications to use, always keep a pet's ID tags/collars and microchips updated, having a recent, well-lit photo of your pet to use to distribute in case your pet goes missing, and participate in local social media groups or pages for missing pets.

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