Keep your pets safe during Fourth of July fireworks

Afirework pops outside. The family dog becomes terrified, barking and running back and forth. The cat slinks off to a hiding place. For our pets, the Fourth of July holiday can be stressful and traumatic. Shelters each year see a rise in lost pets around the holiday. Veterinarians field calls from worried pet owners.

Experts say that preparation for the holiday is key for a smooth weekend. Here are some tips to minimize stress on your animal.

Make sure your pet has current identification

Loud noises such as thunderstorms and fireworks might cause your dog to break out through a screen window, hop a fence or otherwise run away.

Make sure your pet is licensed and wearing identification. If your pet is microchipped, make sure your information such as address and phone number are current with the microchip company.

Take recent photos of your pet so you have them on hand, said Kitty Block, the CEO and president of the Humane Society of the United States.

If you encounter a lost dog or cat in your neighborhood, chances are the pet is still close to its home. Brenda Barnette, the general manager for LA Animal Services recommends taking the pet (if it’s not injured or aggressive) to a safe space like a backyard and posting on apps such as NextDoor.

“If you can put a leash on the dog, walk it around,” she said.

If you need to, take the pet to a shelter or a local rescue organization.

Exercise your pet

In the days leading up to the holiday, make sure you give your dogs and cats plenty of exercise, said John Howe, the president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

“Exercise really helps reduce anxiety,” Howe said.

Figure out your dog’s individual signs of stress, such as panting, the position of the ears or “whale eye,” when the whites of the eyes are showing, said Matt Beisner, the co-owner of The Zen Dog.

Then figure out what your dog is like when they are calm and what activities make your dog happy, such as play time, toys or training exercises. Introduce more calming activities in the days leading up to fireworks.

Beisner said that dogs will stack stressors, so even if fireworks are on a Saturday, you might not see the resulting behavior until 48 hours later.

“This is not the time to teach the dog how to be OK with fireworks,” he said.

“If they see you overreacting to the noises, then they’re going to overreact also,” Howe said.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to trainers and behavioral therapists who focus on relationship-based training with dogs. Contact a veterinarian for help if you think your pet might need a medication for anxiety.

Create a safe space

Figure out a safe space for your pet where there’s less of a chance of escape. Maybe there’s a room in the house where you can close the curtains or blinds (to avoid seeing the flashes in the sky) and play white noise, soft music or a TV show.

If your dog is used to being crated, have them go in their crate, Howe said.

“They need a place where they can be safe,” Howe said.