Loud blasts, pops and whistles from Fourth of July fireworks are often terrifying to pets and may cause them to panic and run, putting them at risk of getting lost, injured or worse. County Animal Services is reminding you to keep your pets safe, calm and secure on Independence Day.
Keep pets safely at home
- Leave pets at home during fireworks displays — unless you’re certain they’re comfortable with loud noises.
- Secure pets inside your home, not in the yard. Even a fenced yard isn’t escape-proof; scared pets may dig under, jump over or break through fences.
- Create a calm, quiet space. Keep them in a room they feel safe in, with doors and windows closed. White noise machines, soft music or the TV can help mask scary sounds.
- Stay with them if possible — or have someone they trust stay with them for extra reassurance.
- Never leave pets alone in a car, even for a short time.
Plan ahead for extra-anxious pets
- Try a weighted or calming jacket such as a ThunderShirt.
- Talk to your veterinarian about whether anxiety-relieving medication is appropriate.
Prepare in case they get lost
Even with the best precautions, pets can sometimes slip away. Make sure you’re ready:
- Microchip your pet and ensure your contact information is up to date. Microchipped pets are reunited faster.
- Make sure your pet wears a collar with an ID tag that includes your current phone number.
- The County offers low-cost microchip and rabies vaccination clinics at County animal shelters every day — no appointment needed.
If you find a lost pet
- Try to secure the animal and check for a tag.
- Look for the owner through social media and lost-and-found sites.
- If you can’t reach the owner but you can safely transport the pet please bring it to the County’s Carlsbad or Bonita shelter or call County Animal Services’ dispatch at (619) 236-2341 so the animal can be safely cared for at the shelter.
If you lose your pet
- Check with neighbors, local veterinarians and pet hospitals, social media and lost and found websites.
- You can also check County Animal Services’ lost and found page online more than once. And if you see your dog or cat is at County Animal Services, the County’s two shelters in Carlsbad and Bonita are open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. over the weekend. The office closes on Mondays but is open all other days.
Officers respond to calls of stray or injured animals in the unincorporated area of San Diego County and promote microchipping to help reunite owners with their pets.
