Leave Fido at Home During Fireworks: Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips

Erica Hendry contributed reporting on this article. 

Keep Fido safe this holiday weekend with these pet tips. 

According to the Humane Society of the United States, the first business day after the Fourth of July is the busiest day of the year for shelters across the country because many dogs run away in fear of fireworks displays.

To avoid losing your pet on the Fourth of July, leave them inside – a frightened dog is more likely to jump a fence or dig underneath it to run away from loud noises than dogs that aren’t scared.

Make sure your pet has a collar on with securely attached, legible identification tags that include your address and phone number.

Don’t bring your pet to loud, crowded fireworks displays.

Even when left inside at home, animals may be able to hear fireworks displays. You may want to leave on a television or radio to help muffle the noise.

Here are some additional Fourth of July pet safety tips:

• Keep alcoholic drinks, lighters and lighter fluid and fireworks out of reach. All have ingredience that are toxic to animals.
• Keep your pets on their normal diet – even if they’re begging for a burger from the grill.
• Keep citronella candles, citronella spray and other bug-repellants away from animals, unless the label specifically says the bug repellant is safe for animals.
• Never, ever leave your pet in a parked car on a hot day. It takes only minutes for the interior temperature to reach deadly levels. Veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward demonstrates the effects of staying in a parked car with the windows cracked open in his latest YouTube video.
  

See more tips from the ASPCA here.