July 4th Pet Safety Tips

The 4th of July can be a scary time for pets.

Last year, the Santa Maria Animal Shelter saw a large number of lost pets and some who ran away from their owners because of the loud noises.

Employees are preparing for another busy year.

For dogs like Howie, he gets scared every 4th of July.

His owner, Daniel Hudson says when he hears the fireworks go off, he makes sure to hold Howie a little closer to him.

“I do nothing but keep him close to me and give him a lot of love at the same time,” says Hudson.

Community Outreach Coordinator for Santa Barbara Animal Services, Stacy Silva, says it is best to make sure your pet is inside your house and has proper identification in case it were to run away.

She also says dogs aren’t the only ones who get scared. She says pets like cats, birds and rabbits get scared too.

“With cats give them somewhere to hide that usually makes them feel more secure and comfortable in their environment,” she says.

This year the animal shelter is working together with the city to provide pet owners with crates they can borrow for the holiday.

While every pet is unique and some don’t even become phased by the noise, it’s always best to be prepared.

“I keep my pets indoors and make sure it’s a calm environment, they have 10 times better hearing than humans,” says Jacob Nunez.

Silva also recommends talking to your vet about a sedative that your pet can take to calm them down. She also says its best to avoid firework shows.

While the Santa Maria Animal Shelter will not be opened for the 4th of July there will be staff available to help find lost pets.