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Protect your pet this Fourth of July holiday
It's no secret that more pets go missing around the Fourth of July than any other time of the year. The bangs, booms, and pops of fireworks can be quite scary for our furry friends, and they scamper off in search of a good hiding place. While many areas of King County prohibit consumer fireworks, chances are that you'll still hear firecrackers, aerial shells, and other noisemakers in your neighborhood during the holiday period.
To help your pet cope with the noise from fireworks, and reduce the chances that it runs away, Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) offers these tips.
- Keep your pet secured indoors in the quietest room of your home while fireworks are going off. You can also use soothing music or television as a distraction. Some pets will stay calmer when placed in a secure crate in a darkened, quiet room.
- If your pet is normally kept outside, bring them inside or put them in a well-ventilated garage or shed or in a basement during fireworks displays.
- Make sure your pet is licensed and has an ID tag or microchip. Pets with ID have a much greater chance of being returned to their owners. If you need to license your pet and you live in the RASKC service area, you can license online at kingcounty.gov/LicenseMyPet.
- Some pets may benefit from prescription or over-the-counter medications to help keep them calmer. Check with your regular veterinarian for more information about these options.
- Don’t assume that your pet won’t react just because you haven’t had problems in the past. Sometimes, pets become sensitive to loud noises later in life.
- If your pet is lost, check in person at all local shelters, and check back often. It may take some time before spooked pets are brought to shelters.
Help for Owners with Missing Pets
If your pet does manage to escape, RASKC is ready to help.
Owners whose pets are missing can visit kingcounty.gov/LostAPet to fill out a missing pet report and find other tips and information that can help. There is also a "View Found Pets" button on that page where owners can see information about stray pets that have been picked up by animal control officers or community members.
For those who find stray pets wandering in their neighborhood, visit kingcounty.gov/FoundAPet to complete a found pet report and read tips on how to reunite a stray pet with their owner.
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