5 Pet Friendly July 4 Tips

Keep Your Pet Safe this July 4th

Most of us love a good 4th of July fireworks display, but our pets are not so enthusiastic about the festivities of the day. In fact, animals with “noise phobias” – fear of noises and sounds like fireworks and thunderstorms – may be terrified.

To ensure that your 4th of July holiday is fun for you and your pet, here are a few tips from Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore, the League’s Vice President of Animal Welfare:

1. Leave your pet at home if you are planning on attending a fireworks celebration.
2. Keep small pets indoors preferably in a room with no windows. You can turn on the TV or radio to provide some distraction
3. Have your pet constrained on a leash or kept in a carrier if you must be outside with them.
4. Be aware that some pets become “fearfully aggressive” due to loud noises. Protect your pets from people who are waving sparklers or setting off home fireworks.
5. Never punish your pet for his fearful behavior, but don’t reinforce the behavior by trying to sooth your pet with ‘It’s ok’ or similar words.  Paying attention to your pet may positively reinforce the fearful behavior.

Dr. Smith-Blackmore also notes that many animal shelters report increases of “stray” animal intakes after the July 4th holiday due to the number of pets running away in an attempt to avoid the noise and excitement. “Be sure that your pet has a current ID tag and/or microchip so that you and your pet can be easily reunited in the case he or she runs off,” she advises.

If you believe any of your pets has a noise phobia, talk with your veterinarian about the best ways to keep your pet safe during the holiday.