Keep your pets safe during July Fourth
The Fourth of July is a frightening time for pets. The get-togethers with a lot of people and loud noises can be overwhelming and very stressful. It’s important to do what you can to keep them safe during this time of year.
Many pets are lost during the holiday celebration because of fleeing their homes during the fireworks in an effort to get somewhere they feel safe and where there is less noise.
Pets should be kept inside on July Fourth. Provide an area that is comforting to them with items they enjoy, like a bed or blanket.
If your pet is crate trained, this is a great place to keep them during the fireworks. Many pets treat these areas as their den, and they feel safe there. It can be helpful to provide them with soothing music or white noise. Anything that can help lessen or keep them from the loud noise of the fireworks.
Be sure your pets have their collars with tags. Rabies tags are great and required by law, but be sure to also have an ID tag with current contact information.
This is your pet’s quickest way home. If you do not have an ID tag, you can get one at the Oklahoma City Animal Shelter for free. They are open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for this service. You also can microchip your pet. This is a more permanent form of identification, and most veterinary clinics and animal shelters have microchip scanners.
If your pet does happen to get lost, be sure to visit your local animal shelter immediately. Oklahoma City Animal Welfare is open from noon to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week for owners looking for lost pets. Each year, thousands of pets enter the shelter and no owner comes to look for them, or they wait until it’s too late. The stray holding period for dogs and cats is three days, or five days if the pet has some form of identification.
After the fireworks, be sure to inspect your yard or outside area where your pet will be. Fireworks often leave debris that could be harmful to your pets if swallowed. If this does happen, be sure to seek the advice of your veterinarian immediately.
For more information on how you can be a responsible pet owner, go to the shelter’s website at www.okc.gov or visit in person at 2811 SE 29.
Jonathan Gary is Oklahoma City Animal Welfare superintendent. He has worked at Oklahoma City Animal Welfare for more than 18 years, working in all areas of operation leading up to his promotion to superintendent in August 2016.