WASHINGTON — Animal shelters and veterinary groups across the United States are bracing for a spike in lost and distressed pets this Fourth of July, as record-scale fireworks displays marking the 250th anniversary of American independence are expected to intensify a pattern that already sends thousands of animals fleeing each year.
Shelters typically report a 30 to 60 percent increase in lost-pet intakes in the days following July 4, according to the American Animal Hospital Association. July 5 is consistently among the busiest intake days of the year for shelters nationwide, the association said.
This year's commemorations of the nation's semiquincentennial include expanded fireworks shows in Washington, D.C., and other cities, according to NPR. Organizers of the Freedom 250 events on the National Mall have advised that the area is not a pet-friendly environment on the holiday.
Emergency veterinary hospitals also see higher caseloads around the holiday, including pets injured after being struck by vehicles while running loose, said Michael Q. Bailey, a veterinarian and president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. "They hear a boom and then they go running," Bailey said. "Even if you had a leash on them, they may pull the leash out of your hand."
Kate de Luca, of the lost-pet notification service Fido Alert, said the Fourth of July is the biggest day for lost pets nationwide, with shelters reporting spikes of 30 to 60 percent in intakes in the days that follow. Megan Williams, executive director of the Lakes Region Humane Society in New Hampshire, said fireworks are "terrifying for a lot of animals" and that more pets go missing around the holiday than at any other time of year.
Veterinarians and animal welfare officials are recommending precautions including keeping pets indoors during fireworks, ensuring collars carry current contact information, confirming that microchips are registered with up-to-date owner details, and creating a quiet indoor space away from exterior walls and windows. Bailey and other experts also suggested tiring pets out with exercise earlier in the day and, for animals with severe anxiety, consulting a veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication or pressure-based products such as ThunderShirts.
Some local shelters have taken additional steps to help reunite lost animals with owners. Sacramento County's Bradshaw Animal Shelter said it is waiving owner redemption fees from June 27 through July 11 to speed reunification. The Pet Resource Center of Kansas City said it is urging pet owners to prepare before fireworks begin, noting that even animals with no prior history of escaping can bolt through screens, fences or open doors when startled.
Animal welfare organizations said they would continue monitoring intake levels through the holiday weekend, with the highest volumes of lost-pet reports typically recorded in the 48 hours after the Fourth of July.
