Humane Society offers to keep pets safe during Fourth of July

Bang! Crackle! Pop! Boom!

Thunderous fireworks and large crowds create a rowdy atmosphere for the Fourth of July. But the loud, celebratory sounds also can trigger fear in even the calmest of pets.

Sam Ellingson, associate vice president of communications and marketing at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, said the organization sees an increase in missing pets around the Fourth of July.

“This is a regular season for us,” Ellingson said. “Fourth of July is a fairly predictable season. With our experience, we sort of know what activities are going to cause pets to get stressed out.”

Those often include loud fireworks and large gatherings, and according to a Humane Society news release, a fear of fireworks is common for animals. Pets might panic and slip away, especially when they’re startled by sudden loud noises.

As a result, the shelter emphasized the need for pet owners to prepare early for the Fourth of July by taking extra precautions and reducing the possibility of a lost pet.

Some of those recommendations included:

• Keeping pets indoors, ideally in a quiet room, during fireworks and large gatherings
• Traveling to areas with fewer fireworks
• Making sure ID tags and microchip registrations are up to date
• Making sure collars fit well
• Consulting a veterinarian for help or anti-anxiety medication.

But even with precautionary measures, pets can get lost, and it is important to know where to look or whom to call in less-than-ideal situations.

“The most important thing pet owners can do is prepare before the holiday, not after,” Ellingson said in the news release.

The Humane Society offers solutions to owners whose pets go missing through its “Found Pets in Our Care” page. In its news release, the organization recommended checking postings on community and social media groups, such as Nextdoor or Facebook, in case pets were picked up by someone.

Clark County offers many solutions and points of contact in the event of losing or finding a pet, and the county is contracted with the Humane Society for animal shelter services.

“(This) is an investment in helping keep more pets at home and trying to reduce the occurrence of pets escaping or getting scared,” Ellingson said. “It’s a really stressful thing, so providing this information is an extra measure to help families feel a little bit more comfortable and confident in what to do.”

The shelter created a list of pet safety tips and resources at hssw.org/july4. Check out its other lost- and found-pet resources at hssw.org/lost-found/lost-and-found-resources and more ways it helps owners find lost pets all year long.