Did you know July 5th is the busiest day of the year at most shelters? Fireworks terrify many animals, even normally calm pets.

Keep your pets safe. Keep them at home, indoors wtih no possible escape routes through windows or doors. We also recommend playing soft music or leaving a television set playing in the background.

If you are on vacation with your pet, make sure you have your pet secured in a safe area. Confirm that your pet’s microchip is registered and you have an identification tag on your pet. In a pinch, purchase a collar from The Dollar Tree and write your cabin or campsite information with a phone number on it with a permanent marker.

Making sure your pet’s microchip registration and identification tag have the current contact information is essential! LCHS frequently encounters microchipped animals that have a lapsed registration or old information so it is impossible to contact the owner. If you are unsure if your pet’s microchip is up to date, please call LCHS and we can scan your pet’s chip and register the information for free through 24-Hour Petwatch.

If you are enjoying a fireworks display at home, try to be considerate of other animals in the neighborhood as well as wildlife. Try to avoid areas where animals may have a nest or den in order to prevent distress to wildlife.

If you know your animal will be distressed during the firework displays, contacting your veterinarian may help. Truly severe cases may benefit from a mild sedative during the fireworks to prevent a terrified pet from injuring itself.

There are also a variety of calming products, such as Thundershirts, that may help. You can find out more about Thundershirts at http://www.thundershirt.com