With the Fourth of July celebrations occurring throughout the country, Santa Rosa County Public Information Officer Joy Tsubooka said residents should take extra precautions when it comes to their pets. The noise, flashes of light and burning smell commonly associated with fireworks can cause a pet to either runaway or cause other frantic behaviors including biting and possibly even property damage.
Tsubooka offered the following advice to keep a pet safe from fireworks displays.
• Do not take your pet to fireworks displays.
• Do not leave your pet in the car while you watch a fireworks display. In only a matter of minutes, the heat in a car can cause serious health problems or even death. A stressed animal can also cause major damage to the interior of your car.
• Keep pets indoors. Turn on the TV or radio as a distraction and close the curtains.
• Never leave pets unattended outside, not even in a fenced yard or on a chain, if you are near a fireworks display or if your neighbors are lighting small fireworks. They may try to run away or become tangled up in their chain.
• Provide a pet bed or crate in a quiet place to create a small den-like place and a sense of security.
• If you must be outside with your pet, keep the pet on a leash or in a carrier at all times.
• Keep pets away from fireworks, open fires and matches.
• Encourage your pet to “go” before fireworks begin by taking your pet for a walk. If your pet becomes frightened, this can help prevent toileting accidents.
• Make sure your pet has proper identification tags with current information in case they run away.
• If your pet often becomes stressed during periods of loud noise like thunderstorms, check with your veterinarian to see if a tranquilizer is appropriate for your pet.
Animal shelters often see an increase in lost pets following a fireworks display, Tsubooka said. Should a pet go missing, residents are encouraged to contact the Santa Rosa County Animal Services at (850) 983-4680 or search online at www.santarosa.fl.gov/animals by selecting the “Search Lost Pets” tab.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: SRC: County offers pet safety tips for holiday weekend