Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region Provides Tips for Firework Safety
June 27, 2022 Colorado Springs, CO— It’s only natural to want to celebrate Independence Day with your family, including loved pets. Please remember that fireworks can cause animals a great deal of stress this weekend. For animals with noise phobias, this holiday can be terrifying as they cannot control their reactions to the loud and unpredictable fireworks.
Pet owners should learn the signs of noise phobias and practice pet safety at all times this holiday weekend. Common signs of noise phobias include: shaking/trembling, excessive drooling, barking or howling, trying to hide or escape the house/yard, refusal to eat, and loss of bladder control. If symptoms persist after fireworks are over pet owners should consult their veterinarian.
The days following the 4th of July are often some of the busiest for stray pet intake at animal welfare organizations across the country due to pets escaping from fear of fireworks.
Here are some tips pet owners can do to ensure their pets are safe this 4th of July.
- Keep license and updated identification tags on them and make sure microchip information is up to date. HSPPR responds to an increased number of stray dog calls during the 4th of July. Keeping their licenses, ID’s, and microchip information up to date and on them at all times helps frightened runaways make it home faster.
- Take them on a walk. Before you leave, and before fireworks start walk your pet so they can have a bathroom break, and express some energy.
- Use a leash or carrier. If you have to go outside while fireworks are going off keep your pet close to you.
- Keep your pets at home. Even if your dog does not have noise phobias, fireworks can cause burns or other serious injuries to curious pets.
- If possible, keep pets in interior rooms. Keep them in a place they feel safe, and use calming music, not the television, to provide distraction.
- Provide them with an “escape”. Pets will often seek out a familiar crate, bed, or hiding spot during loud fireworks. Make sure they have access to a place they feel is their “own”.
- Be fire safe! Do not let your dog go near fireworks, lighter fluid, or matches. Sniffing or eating them could cause serious injury.
Enjoy your Independence Day holiday weekend and keep your Pet-riotic animal healthy and safe!
About Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region:Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is the largest nonprofit animal shelter in southern Colorado. Serving nearly 24,000 animals a year, HSPPR provides adoption options, animal cruelty investigations, subsidized spays/neuters, a Trap-Neuter-Return program for feral cats, and other important services. Its Bite Blotter is used to track the quantity, severity, victim types and locations of domestic animal bites to create a safer and more informed community. Rated four stars by Charity Navigator, HSPPR is a local, independent nonprofit that relies on donations from the community to fund its many humane programs. For more information, visit www.hsppr.org.
