Pet safety during the 4th of July fireworks

The following information has been provided by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services:

Animal Services once again urges extreme care for all pet owners during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Every year across America thousands of animals suffer a sad fate following the loud explosions of public firework displays and the blasts of illegal devices.

More than 300 animals perished from July 4th through July 7th in 2008. The animals are so frightened that they will often run from their homes and into traffic. It has been known that some dogs will even crash through glass windows to try to escape all the booms and bangs.

Animal Services is teaming with CAL Fire/Riverside County Fire Department representatives on Wednesday (July 1st) at 10 a.m. at the Ben Clark Regional Training Center for a press conference that will educate the public about the dangers of fireworks. CAL Fire invited Animal Services to help share helpful tips for pet owners.

New pet owners should especially make arrangements if they plan to be out for the evening. Leaving the animal in a room with the television on at a high volume is one trick. Make sure the pet has his favorite bed and toys nearby for comfort. Opening up a fresh can of cat food is a great distraction for felines.

The amount of animals that end up dead following the patriotic holiday is saddening: Riverside County officers collected 364 deceased animals from July 4- to July 7, 2008. The busiest day was the Monday, July 7th, the first weekday after the long weekend when the Department of Animal Services’ Call Center reopened. On that day, officers responded to 660 activities, including calls to collect 156 deceased dogs.

It should be noted that stand-by officers still responded to calls last year on the Fourth of July and the Saturday (July 5th) and Sunday (July 6th) following the holiday. Since the Fourth of July in 2007 landed on a Wednesday, Animal Services’ Call Center was in full swing the following day. That was one of the busiest days on record during the Fourth of July holiday period in the past three years. All told, officers responded to 1,288 activities – including a little more than 1,000 calls for stray pets.

Filed under Review, Headline