July 3, 2008

The Fourth of July and warm weather is no holiday for animals

King County residents are encouraged to prepare their animals for a potentially stressful weekend. July Fourth celebrations, combined with the forecasted warm temperatures, can be traumatic and dangerous for animals. So King County Animal Care and Control cautions all pet owners to be extra protective of their companion animals this week.

Animals have a keen sense of hearing and the sound of fireworks surrounding the Fourth of July can cause them distress.

“Each year at this time, the number of calls to animal shelters about lost or injured animals skyrockets,” explains Nancy McKenney, King County Animal Care and Control Communications Specialist. “If pet owners can follow a few preventative steps now, it could save them a lot of hassle or even heartache later.”

Here are the top three tips for making sure your pet has a safe holiday:
  1. Make sure they are wearing at least two forms of current identification. This can be a personalized tag and a pet license, a microchip and a pet license, or a combination of these options. Identified pets have a greater chance of quickly being returned to their owners.
  2. Keep your pets indoors in the quietest room of your house while fireworks are audible and give them lots of reassurance if they appear distressed. Play soothing music at low volume as a distraction.
  3. Keep phone numbers for the closest animal emergency hospitals and animal shelters nearby. If your pet runs away, call 206-296-PETS (7387) and press 3 for King County Animal Care and Control’s “Lost Pet Hotline” and a list of lost or stray pets currently in the shelter.
Warm temperatures forecast for the holiday mean pet owners should leave their pets at home rather than taking them on errands in the car and always make sure they have access to plenty of fresh, cool water. Cars can act like ovens; the inside temperature rises quickly, even in the shade with the windows cracked, and can cause animals to suffer from heatstroke or even death. If you prepare your furry friends for loud noises and warm weather, everyone in the family can enjoy the holiday weekend.