The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Animal Control Division, would like to remind you that more pets are lost during the 4th of July than any other time of the year and many don’t make it back home. Please consider these three tips in preparation for the holiday festivities to keep your pets safe.
- Keep your pet indoors at all times.
Even if your pet is used to being outside, the panic caused by fireworks may cause them to break their restraint or jump a fence in a terrified attempt to find safety.
- Going to a fireworks display? Leave your pet at home.
The safest place for your pet is at home, not in a crowded, unfamiliar and noisy place. Keeping them in the car is also not an option as your pet may suffer heat stroke from the warm temperatures. Leaving a TV on or other ambient noise to help drowned out the festivities nearby will help keep your pets calm.
- Have your pet properly identified.
When your pet becomes lost and does not have proper identification it will be that much harder to get them back. Consider micro-chipping your pet, ID tags with your name and phone number, or both. It is also a good idea to have a recent picture of your pets if they do become lost so you can file a lost report with the local humane society or Indy Lost Pets.
Following these basic steps will help prevent your family pets from being a casualty of the holiday and if they do get loose will assist in getting them back home safely.