Did you know that July 5th is normally the busiest day of the year at animal shelters? According to the American Humane Association (AHA), many pets run away from home because they get scared by fireworks. Dogs who are let outside alone, or who are left chained, will sometimes run away from fear of the noise, or in order to search for family members who have left them home alone.
Even well-known pets can behave unpredictably when stressed. In order to reduce the stress on your pet, the AHA recommends keeping them indoors, away from too much excitement and celebration, and in a quiet location during fireworks displays.
It's especially important to keep an eye on your pet when children are around. Kids can really add to the stress of an already anxious animal, and even well-behaved pets have been known to bite or attack when they feel cornered or scared. Animal attacks, can be terrifying, painful, and traumatic, especially for children. They can also ruin friendships and be costly to the pet owner. It's in everybody's best interest to prevent these incidents.
I always recommend that parents teach their children how to approach dogs and other pets; this page by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has some dog-bite facts and tips for teaching kids how to behave around dogs.
Ultimately, pet owners are responsible for their animals and liable if they bite or attack. The best thing you can do for your pets this Fourth of July is keep them inside, give them lots of space, and try to keep them calm and comforted.
