Fourth of July celebrations that include loud bangs from fireworks can frighten animals – potentially leading to pets escaping. Animal control officials are reminding residents to keep an eye on their four-legged friends to make sure they stay safe this Independence Day weekend.
For Volusia County Animal Services, this time of year brings in the highest volume of calls and the greatest need for services, said director Angela Miedema.
"I like to say July Fourth is like Black Friday for animal services," she said. "It is the craziest time of year. It's actually the peak of when we get the most amount of stray animals, and unfortunately, very high numbers of bites because we have very fearful dogs."
To help pets feel more calm, Miedema said to keep pets in a quiet environment with white noise playing. In addition, exercising pets before the big booms can also help destress them.
"The more exercise you do, the better you sleep; so your animal, that's true for them as well," Miedema said. "If they haven't gotten enough exercise throughout the day, they're going to have a lot more pent-up anxiety and stress when the fireworks time happens."
Keeping a pet in a crate with a blanket on top can also create a safe, comforting space. Miedema also encouraged the use of essential oils like lavender or chamomile in a diffuser. She emphasized using only animal-safe oils in a diffuser.
If a pet does go missing, Volusia County Animal Services recommends checking local shelters and lost-and-found pet pages.
To prevent losing your animal, Miedema said, owners should make sure that their animal's microchip is up to date and that pets are wearing their identification tags.
"The microchip is placed right between the shoulder blades, underneath the skin, by a veterinarian," Miedema said. "Lots of shelters provide them as well, and it actually gives the contact information for you as the owner in case your dog ever gets lost of any kind at any point."
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