The Kent County Animal Shelter (KCAS) is advising pet owners to take precautions in the days leading up to the Fourth of July holiday as fireworks may disrupt the behavior of animals.
“Fourth of July is difficult for pets who struggle with anxiety,” said Angela Hollinshead, KCAS Director. “We want to make sure pet owners know what to do in case their animal becomes anxious, who to call if their pet goes missing, or if they see stray animals.”
The KCAS offers the following fireworks tips for dog and cat owners:
- Keep your pet indoors during fireworks to prevent them from running away.
- Walk your dog during the daylight hours so you can keep them inside at night when people are most likely to use fireworks.
- If you know your dog has a hard time with fireworks, talk to your veterinarian about medications that might be able to help with their anxiety.
- Make sure your pet has access to a comfortable place to hide and do not try to move them from their hiding space as this can cause additional stress.
- Muffle the sound of fireworks by closing all window and doors. You can also turn on music or the television to help soften the jarring noises.
- Consider staying indoors with your pets to offer them comfort and reassurance.
- Make sure your animals have an ID tag or chip in case they get lost and ensure the information connected to your pets’ microchip is up to date.
Pet owners can also register their pets for Petco Love Lost facial recognition software by uploading a picture of their pet to petcolovelost.org. A person who finds a lost animal can take a photo of them and the website will do a facial recognition search, showing owners the lost animals that look like their pet.
The KCAS offers the following tips if you lost your pet or found an animal:
- Post found pets to local Facebook groups and Nextdoo, or
- Hang flyers in the area where the animal was found.
In Kent County, fireworks may be legally used between July 3 – 5. Local cities, townships and villages reserve the right to place time restrictions on when fireworks may be used. Please check with your local unit of government for further information. To report a violation of the fireworks ordinance, residents should call the non-emergency number of their local police department.
For concerns regarding a loose animal or animal welfare, residents should call the Kent County Sheriff’s Animal Control at 616-632-7310. For concerns after hours and on holidays, residents should call the non-emergency number of their local police department.
