More dogs go missing on July 4th than on any other day of the year.
Fireworks can be scary for dogs and cats. Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) wants to share easy steps you can take before and during the festivities to ensure your pet is safe and comfortable as you celebrate the Fourth of July.
Because fireworks are so scary, your chances of finding a lost pet will be higher during the holiday. If you find or lose a pet this holiday, there are a few things you can do BEFORE going to the shelter. According to a study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 70% of lost dogs are found less than a mile from their homes, and 42% are less than 400 feet.
How to Prepare for Fireworks:
Ensure your pet has a microchip and collar with an ID tag. Microchipped pets are THREE TIMES more likely to get home. If it already has one, ensure the information is current and accurate. You can update the microchip information at my24pet.com.
Make an appointment with your vet before the holiday to refill their medication.
Take your pets out for bathroom breaks before the festivities begin.
Keeping Your Pet Safe During The Festivities:
Reduce stress by running music, turning on the TV, or white noise.
Keep their collars on with updated ID tags.
Keep all pets inside or on a leash when outside.
Give your pets any medications they might need to reduce stress.
What to do if you lose your pet?
Use your neighbors as a resource. Most dogs don't wander far from home! Alert your neighbors and ask if they have seen anything. Go on regular walks around the area.
Get on social media. Check lost and found pet pages for your city on social media. Post clear photos and details about your pet on Nextdoor.
Visit your local shelter's website. Many local shelters have a lost and found page on their website. Regularly check the page to look for your missing pet.
What do you do if you find a pet?
WALK: Walk the pet around the area you found them to see if you run into someone looking for a lost pet
CHIP: Go to a vet, local fire station, or pet supply store to see if they can check the microchip.
REPORT: File a found pet report on the Austin 3-1-1 app
POST: Snap photos and post on the Austin Lost and Found Pets on FB, Nextdoor, and the Neighbor app
You can also consider fostering or adopting an animal from Austin Pets Alive! before the holiday. Fireworks induce stress for animals, and unfortunately, our on-site pets know this feeling all too well. The July 4th fireworks show takes place right next to our Cesar Chavez shelter, so we want to find as many adoptive or foster homes for our dogs and cats as possible before then.
Can you open your home to help APA! parade 250 pets out of the shelter before the July 4th fireworks? Visit www.austinpetsalive.org or stop by the shelter on 1156 W Cesar Chavez any day between 12 pm and 6 pm.
Please email [email protected] to request an interview or additional information.
