MACON, Ga. — For most of us, Independence Day means cookouts and fireworks, but our four-legged friends often feel fear and anxiety during the celebrations.
“June is Pet Preparedness Month, and this is a great way to close it out,” Emergency Management Director Spencer Hawkins said in a release from Macon-Bibb County Animal Welfare. “It may not be severe weather or similar emergency, but we know there will be a lot of activity during the holiday weekend that may scare our pets. It’s best to prepare for that ahead of time.”
Animal Welfare has some tips to keep your pets safe during the holiday.
- Check if your pet was picked up or turned in to Animal Welfare if it escaped.
- Make sure your pet has on an identification tag.
- It is also beneficial for your pet to have a microchip. If a collar or tag falls off, it can still be identified.
- Keep all pets inside the house, rather than bringing them to a party or keeping them in the yard while owners are away.
- Dogs can be startled by the loud noises. If your dog is crate trained, put it in the crate and cover the crate with a blanket to make your pup feel secure.
- Keep a recent photo of your pet.
- Limit your pet's time on hot surfaces or in direct sunlight and keep a portable water bowl nearby if you are spending time with it outdoors.
If your pet escaped, you can send photos of it to Animal Welfare on Facebook and they'll post the pictures so the community can look out for it.
“Our goal is to help keep everyone’s pets safe, but if they do get out, we want to (reunite) them their families as quickly as possible,” Animal Welfare Director Tracy Belew said in the release.
Make sure your pets are kept safe from July 4 celebrations during 10 a.m. and 11:59 p.m, the time frame the county allows fireworks to be set off during the holiday.
For a full list of Fourth of July pet safety recommendations, click here.