Keep Pets Safe on the Fourth of July

For immediate release: Date: 6-29-2006
Contact: Jessica Kearney, Senior Public Relations Specialist, 561-841-4245

Celebrating the Fourth is great fun, but for pets it can be devastating. Dianne Sauve, Animal Care and Control Director of Palm Beach County, states: “Fireworks can traumatize pets. Keep companion animals indoors and help them feel safe during the Fourth of July celebration.”

The following precautions are recommended:

• Leave your pet at home while you attend the festivities.
• Resist taking your pet with you and do not leave your pet in a car. (Even with the windows open, temperatures are usually 15 degrees hotter in a vehicle.)
• Pets feel more secure at home; place your pets in a ‘safe room’ with the television or radio on while you are away enjoying the celebration.
• Do not leave your pet outdoors for any reason during the celebration hours; noise and fireworks may cause animals to panic, escape, get lost and possibly become injured or entangled while trying to escape the noise.
• Be sure dogs and cats are wearing a current rabies license tag for identification and proof of current rabies vaccination; horses should have identification attached to their halter.
• Though the law states that dogs are not allowed to be tethered or chained any day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., no animal should be chained after the 5 p.m. restriction during the holiday for fear of becoming entangled and severely injured trying to escape the fireworks and frightening noises.
• If you do not want to leave your pet alone, ask friends or relatives to sit with your pet while you are away for the celebration. Ask your veterinarian for a list of bonded and professional pet sitters.

If you would like more information about Palm Beach County animal laws, visit the Web site at www.pbcgov.com/pubsafety/animal.