Fireworks and vacations can be fun for humans but scary for our feline and canine family members. We “Ooh” and “Ahh” but our pets can feel under attack by loud booming noises like fireworks or thunderstorms. Pets also can become disoriented during a road trip.
Before you know it, your beloved friend is lost.
According to PetHub, only 15 to 20% of dogs that end up in shelters and less than 2% of cats ever find their way home. Annually in North America, 10 million dogs and cats get lost but only 1 in 10 are found by their family.
You can easily help prevent your pet from becoming a sad statistic.
- First, know your pet. What events, sounds, human interactions or smells trigger anxiety or stress for Buddy the Bichon or Greta the Shepherd? Are they “party animals” or wallflowers more likely to run scared when company comes over to celebrate?
- Animals are particularly vulnerable to getting lost during transport so be extra careful when traveling with your companion and make sure they are securely fastened to seatbelts or in crates.
- Know the signs of anxiety. For dogs, it may be pacing, peeing or pooping in unusual places or panting. A stressed-out cat may refuse food, drool, hide or even groom to excess.
- Make sure your pet has updated external ID tags and consider microchipping them. Some counties and most veterinary practices offer microchipping for a fee.
- Keep up-to-date medical records and photos and proof of ownership. This may especially be important during a road trip.
And strongly consider keeping your dogs and cats indoors as much as possible in the days immediately before and including July 4th.
July 5th is often the busiest day at animal shelters, according to data collected by PetHub, a high-tech pet ID and pet locator company that started National Lost Pet Prevention Month four years ago. Keep your dogs and cats safe this month and every month!
