Animal Welfare League Offers Pet Safety Tips for Fourth of July

If your dog is nervous about thunderstorms, the Fourth of July can be downright terrifying.

The first business day after July 4 is one of the busiest days of the year at local pet shelters, according to the Humane Society of the United States, as many dogs run away in fear from the loud noises of fireworks displays.

Neil Trent, executive director of the , said Arlington pet owners are generally well-informed about how to best care for their animals.

"Essentially the community in Arlington is well educated in animal issues. The level of care is pretty high," he said.

But, to avoid losing your four-legged friend on the Fourth of July, Trent advised leaving them inside – a frightened dog is more likely to jump a fence or dig underneath it to run away from loud noises than dogs that aren’t scared.

"Their hearing is much more acute than ours is," he said.

Make sure your pet has a collar on with securely attached, legible identification tags that include your address and phone number.

Don’t bring your pet to loud, crowded fireworks displays.

Even when left inside at home, animals may be able to hear fireworks displays. You may want to leave on a television or radio to help muffle the noise.

In extreme cases, vets can prescribe medication to calm your pet during the holiday, Trent said.

Here are some additional Fourth of July pet safety tips:

• Keep alcoholic drinks, lighters and lighter fluid and fireworks out of reach. All have ingredience that are toxic to animals.
• Keep your pets on their normal diet – even if they’re begging for a burger from the grill.
• Keep citronella candles, citronella spray and other bug-repellants away from animals, unless the label specifically says the bug repellant is safe for animals.

See more tips from the ASPCA here.