While July 4 may be fun for humans, fireworks can be scary for their four-legged friends.
The San Diego Humane Society encourages “pet parents” to take steps to prevent their animals from ending up in shelters during the holiday.
Humane Society officials said Independence Day typically leads to a sharp increase in the number of stray animals in shelters, which are already full.
The Humane Society “has been over capacity all year,” and enters the busy summer months with less space than before, officials said.
Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO, said his organization has “never been in this situation before, entering the July Fourth holiday having been over capacity for more than six months.”
“We can’t stress enough how important it is for pet owners to have a plan to keep their pets safe — even for the unexpected, like unscheduled fireworks, in their neighborhoods,” Weitzman said.
Along with licensing and microchipping to keep an animal safe, the Humane Society also recommends:
- Collars with tags with the owner’s phone number
- Using stress-reduction medication for pets before fireworks begin
- Arranging for a pet sitter if the pet’s owner won’t be home, as a way to help the animal stay calm
- Creating a home sanctuary by protecting a pet from external noise and lights, and making sure a home’s doors, windows and yard are secure
- Not leaving a pet outside unattended, especially on July 4.
According to the Humane Society, “statistics show one out of every three pets will become lost during their lifetime, and only one in 10 will be found.”
The July Fourth holiday is an especially risky time, as the noise associated with fireworks and celebrations has caused animals to jump fences out of fear or confusion.
Data from 2022 showed that the Humane Society took in 275 stray dogs, cats and other small animals lost between July 4 and July 7, and only 16% of those pets were reclaimed.
All shelters will be closed on Tuesday. Residents who find a stray pet over the holiday should look for identification on the collar and contact the owner if possible. Post photos and a description on social media. More resources are available at sdhumane.org/found.
