Food, fireworks and parties are just around the corner, and while many people love the July 4th holiday, it can be a pretty scary time for our pets.
Whether its noisy fireworks or loud music, startled animals tend to get out and end up lost more often this time of year making it even more important to take extra precautions to keep them safe and inside.
Liz Stamper with Best Friends Animal Society Midwest says if you do decide to party with your pet, on a boat for example, its also important to keep things like water safety in mind amid major flooding across the state.
"I always recommend a life jacket for your pet if possible," says Stamper. "Just kind of keeping them contained too, whether that's through a little harness leash snap that's happening, just they're not jumping off the boat or anything else, and of course, making sure that they're with someone."
She says the best thing you can do for your furry friend this holiday is make sure they are tagged and chipped.
Other things to keep in mind are hot weather and loud fireworks. Both could spell trouble for your pet.
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Stamper says when in doubt, keep your animals indoors.
"Put them in a quiet room, let them have their favorite toys, close the windows, draw the curtains, surround them with calming music, even turn on the television," she says.
Stamper says if you do decide to shoot off fireworks with your pets outside, make sure to thoroughly clean up the area as fireworks contain several types of toxic chemicals that could spell extra trouble for Fido.
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