Almost 100 Stressed Pets Flee Fireworks As Pet Owners Seek Their Lost Pups In SWR

WINCHESTER, CA — It's that call pet owners never want to make on the 4th of July or any day. Have you seen my dog?

Wildomar's Animal Friends of the Valleys pet shelter has taken in over 92 dogs since the 4th of July weekend began, the shelter reported Tuesday. One by one, workers checked the animals for microchips in an attempt to contact their owners. Independence Day is one of the worst days of the year for pet owners with nervous animals, according to Animal Friends of the Valleys.

On Monday and Tuesday, frantic dog owners took to social media to find their missing pets in Southwest Riverside County.

One such owner, Simon Bernaldo of Winchester, spent a frantic 12 hours on the 4th of July searching for his lost 10-year-old German Shepherd, Baron.

He offered his story to Patch as a cautionary tale for those who would leave their nervous dogs on the loudest night of the year.

"My dog has never been nervous on the 4th of July in the past. This year was a lot different," Bernaldo said. For the days leading up to the 4th, Baron paced and panted. "He was under more anxiety this year, so I would play music, and he would fall asleep in my lap, comforted."

The night of the 4th was epic in Winchester, Bernaldo said, with neighbors shooting off rockets of all sizes.

It was too much for the german shepherd. He managed to get outside and escape, beginning a harrowing 12 hours for the Bernaldo family.

"You'd never look at that 6-foot fence and think the dog could jump it," Bernaldo said.

Baron fled his Shallot Drive home as the sky filled with exploding fireworks, booms and crackles.

"It was devastating," Bernaldo said. "We looked for him all night, driving the neighborhood, went block by block on foot until around 1:30 a.m. We were exhausted and concerned and I had no idea what to do next."

At 2 a.m., Bernaldo sought help on Facebook groups in hopes of finding his precious pup alive.

"My family and I are very worried about his well-being," Bernaldo wrote on a Facebook group in French Valley. He shared many pictures of Baron.

Residents responded to the post in droves, offering ideas and suggestions for how the family could reunite with their pup. One resident commented that two girls had found a dog matching Baron's description and were going "door to door" looking for his owner.

Others suggested he call Animal Friends of the Valleys, the Wildomar-based pet shelter.

The advice ran the gamut, everything from posting flyers to neighbor notifications.

"It gave me a starting point. The neighbors came through for me," Bernaldo said.

Then, a neighbor reached out, saying someone had Baron and was going door to door trying to find the dog's home.

"They said she was taking him to the vet today," Bernaldo said, so he started canvassing local veterinarians.

The French Valley Veterinary Hospital workers recommended he try Animal Friends of the Valleys first. Looking online, he found a picture of his beloved dog.

At roughly 5 a.m., Baron was located as "found" by the Animal Friends of the Valleys website.

"Thankfully, Baron is microchipped," he said. "We gave them Baron's name and they had him. It was effortless getting him back."

Workers at the rescue suggested they keep a close eye on Baron over the next week in case of residual fireworks.

"He's exhausted, sleeping at home now," Bernaldo said, the relief evident in his voice. "When we discovered he was gone, my heart sank. It's like losing a kid. He's such an integral part of our family."

Baron is one of the lucky ones.

Many dogs still wait to be reunited with their families at Animal Friends of the Valleys. One of the surest ways to make that an easy process is to microchip your pets.

The chipping process costs $20 at the shelter and clinic locations.

Pet owners can also take measures from Thundershirts to CBD treats to soothe their pets. Pet owners have to help their dogs weather the storm. According to veterinarians, dogs left outside during the fireworks can leap fences and ram gates until they free themselves to get away.