The Fourth of July is a day of freedom, but if you’re not careful, the celebrations could land your furry friends in the shelter.
According to Elizabeth Oreck, senior manager of community programs for Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles, more lost pets are brought to Los Angeles shelters on July 5 than any other day.
“It’s the biggest food day of the year,” Oreck said.
Here’s how to keep your dog or cat safe at home during the holidays, and what to do if you lose your pet or find someone else’s.
Protect your pets
The best way to keep your pet safe is to keep them out of the house at all, says Oreck.
He advised pet owners to read the schedule of any nearby fireworks displays and make sure their pet is inside ahead of time — loud noises or bright lights can scare them. But impromptu demonstrations from your neighbors – which may be illegal – are difficult to organize.
Put your dog or cat in a comfortable place with windows and secure curtains. Play soft music to drown out the fireworks and give your pet something to do, like stuffing fun inside an interactive toy, to keep them calm and happy.
Get him with a microchip
If your pet gets out, their best chance of getting home is with someone reading the information from their microchip or tag, Oreck said.
“The microchip is very important because the information is still up-to-date,” Oreck said.
Microchips are inexpensive and required for every pet in Los Angeles County over 4 months of age. The vet inserts a small chip about the size of a grain of rice under the pet’s skin that can be scanned if it is lost.
If your pet already has a microchip, make sure the information is up to date; sometimes, even pets with microchips cannot be identified because the phone number associated with them has been disconnected.
LA Animal Services offers microchips for $15 at all six of its shelters without an appointment. LA County shelters offer microchips for $7.50, but they require an appointment.
If you can’t get your pet out in time for Saturday, make sure it has a good collar with a name tag and contact number, Oreck said.
Even with all these precautions, pets can still get lost. “Even the most diligent and responsible pet owner can experience the unexpected,” Oreck said.
If your pet is lost, stay calm.
Allison Cardona, director of the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace in LA, said running your newly released pet may encourage them to keep running rather than coming home.
Put up posters in the area, post on social media like Facebook and Nextdoor and check out all the shelters nearby for your pet. Use free services like PetCo Lost Love, which helps connect people with their lost and found pets.
If you find a pet and can foster it for a few days, try to find the owner using social media, PetCo Lost Love or posters before turning it over to the shelter, Oreck said.
To handle the influx of animals expected over the next few days, Animal Services has put out requests for additional adoption volunteers for the four days before and after the holiday.
