June 21, 2007

Fourth of July fireworks frighten animals

Humane Society Silicon Valley urges families to keep pets indoors during Fourth of July activities
Fourth of July Fireworks dazzle people, but the flashes of light and noise can frighten animals, causing them to become injured or run away. Beth Ward, vice president of animal and customer care for Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV), advises pet owners to keep their animals indoors during Fourth of July activities.

“Every year, we see a dramatic increase in the number of stray dogs and cats during the Fourth of July holiday,” Ward says. “The frightening sights and sounds of fireworks can spook animals and they often do whatever it takes to escape from their confines.” Ward says a dog's hearing, for example, is 10 times more sensitive than a human's, so fireworks are likely to cause your dog some anxiety, stress and fear.

Ward offers the following safety tips to pet owners:

Try to be home on Independence Day. If your pet is afraid of loud noises, keep him inside and turn on a TV or radio to mask loud noises. If you’ve experienced trouble in previous years with your pet being excessively frightened, consult your veterinarian for tranquilizers. Make sure you give your pet the medication before the noises start.

If you must leave your pets alone on Fourth of July, make sure they are safely left inside your home. Secure all windows and doors since pets have been known to break through barriers in an effort to escape the frightening sights and sounds of fireworks.

Make sure your pet is wearing proper ID tags or is microchipped in the event that he becomes lost. Humane Society Silicon Valley is open seven days a week to escort owners of lost pets through our kennels. If your pet is found wearing tags or has a microchip, the Humane Society will make every effort within a 10-day period to contact you to reclaim your pet. Strays without tags are held five days.

Bring cats indoors several hours before dark or at a minimum, keep them in your garage.

Stay away from animals that are scared or traumatized by the noise and keep your children away from them. If cornered, they are more likely to bite.

Do not take your pets with you to watch fireworks. It’s best to leave your dog safe at home with a pet sitter, relative or friend. Hiding under the bed or in a closet is a perfectly normal coping mechanism for your pet.

If your pet does become lost, please do not call the shelter to ask if your animal has been picked up, as you are the only person who can positively identify your animal.

The Humane Society Lost & Found Department is open Monday-Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday/Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The shelter will be closed on July 4, for reclaims and adoptions, but will accept incoming stray animals that will be available for reclaims on July 5.

About Humane Society Silicon Valley
Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) is an independent, nonprofit animal shelter offering quality adoptions, medical care and education programs to enhance the human-animal bond. Established in 1929, HSSV has served Silicon Valley for 78 years and adopted more than 500,000 animals into permanent, loving homes. HSSV is an “open-door” shelter and accepts animals 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of any temperament or health-related problems. HSSV’s medical center offers affordable spaying/neutering, vaccinations and microchips to the public. More information about HSSV can be found at www.hssv.org.