July 4, 2012 Safety Tips for Pets

July 4 Safety Tips. Bombs bursting in air on the Fourth of July may make you feel patriotic, but your pet may be frightened and try to escape from your yard. The days after July 4 are some of the busiest days of the year for Broward County Animal Care. We receive many phone calls for lost pets, and we rescue a high number of stray animals during this time of year. If you follow these safety tips for July 4, you greatly reduce the chances of losing your pet.

• Don’t take dogs to places where there may be fireworks.
• If you plan to be away from home on the holiday, bring your pet inside the house and leave it in a quiet, protected room. Animals left outside in the yard may not only attempt to escape, they may also fall prey to possible abuse or may be stolen.
• If you are at home with a scared dog, don’t reinforce its behavior by offering sympathy. Instead, divert its attention by practicing an obedience routine or playing a game.
• Leave a scared cat alone. Don’t try to force a feline from its hiding place. The cat will come out when it feels safe.

BY: Broward Animal Control

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