SolanaBeachSun.net | Precautions for pets on July Fourth

Precautions for pets on July Fourth

Jul 2, 2009

More family pets will run away from home on the Fourth of July than during any other day of the year because of fireworks. Helen Woodward Animal Center encourages families to take a few simple precautions to make sure that their pets are safe during fireworks celebrations.

HWAC spokesman John Van Zante says, "Even if the fireworks are several miles away, the sound can terrify family pets. If they don't have safe places to hide, or if there's a way for them to run out a door or escape through a fence, your pet will be gone."

HWAC offers a few suggestions for families to keep their pets safe this week.

- Do not take your pets along to the fireworks displays.

- Bring your pets indoors before fireworks displays begin.

- Make sure that your pets have access to their favorite "safe place" or find a quiet, comfortable, enclosed room where your pets can "hide" if they need to.

- If you go to a fireworks display and leave your pets at home alone, leave the radio or TV set on so there is some "normal" background noise.

"This is also a great time to make sure your pets are micro-chipped." says Van Zante. "Many pets that run away during the fireworks escape by slipping out of their collars. A micro-chip will identify your pet if it ends up at a shelter."

What if your pet escapes in spite of your efforts? "Search through your neighborhood right away ... then keep it up. Don't quit after a day or two. Check with the animal shelters and keep checking for several weeks. You can also post signs in your neighborhood, but the best thing to do is to make sure your pets never get out to begin with."

For more information call Helen Woodward Animal Center at 756-4117 or visit the Center at 6461 El Apajo Road. For the location of all animal shelters in San Diego log on to www.animalcenter.org.

blog comments powered by Disqus

Although the Del Mar Times does not have any obligation to monitor this board, the Del Mar Times reserves the right at all times to check this board and to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to the Del Mar Times in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. The Del Mar Times also reserves the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions. All threats to systems or site infrastructure shall be assumed genuine in nature and will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. Submission of any comments will be considered permission to use online or in print.

© Copyright 2008 MainStreet Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of MainStreet Media, LLC. is expressly prohibited.