Every Independence Day, thousands of families experience the heartbreak of a lost pet. From runaway dogs to missing cats, July 4th is the most dangerous time of year for pets-largely due to the loud fireworks that cause panic and confusion. Animal shelters report a 30% surge in lost pets between July 4 and July 6, with July 5 ranking as one of the busiest intake days for shelters nationwide. From summer heat to barbecue food to startling fireworks, pets face several risks during Fourth of July celebrations. Here's how to keep them safe. Here are a few practical 4th of July pet safety tips from our veterinary team to keep your furry friends calm and secure this Independence Day. Why Pets Run Away & Go Missing on the Fourth Fireworks, parties, and open doors create a perfect storm of stress for pets. How do your pets react to Fourth of July Fireworks? Take our poll, and see tips on how to keep them calm and safe on Independence Day. Fireworks and festive gatherings can be stressful for pets. Best Friends Animal Society offers July 4 safety tips and is waiving adoption fees at their Kanab sanctuary from July 1–10. As the Fourth of July approaches, you may be considering lighting some celebratory fireworks for the occasion. Though fireworks may be a fun tradition for us, your four-legged friends may feel differently. Read our tips for keeping your pet safe this Independence Day. Here’s how to keep your pets safe this Fourth of July. 1. Keep Your Pet Indoors. It’s best to keep pets inside during July Fourth celebrations. For one, dogs don’t sweat to cool themselves the way we humans do, making them much more susceptible to overheating. Use this infographic to educate your clients about the dangers of New Year’s celebrations and pets. Fireworks, parades, large numbers of strangers, and other out-of-the-ordinary experiences can be stressful and scary to your pet. Follow the tips in this handout to celebrate the Fourth of July and keep it Fear Free for your pets. 1. Keep Your Cat Safe on the Fourth of July Be sure your cat is wearing an up-to-date and visible ID tag on their collar at all times. Take a current photo of your cat. Give your cat a good play session before people come over for any celebrations. Ask guests to keep an eye out for your cat, to be sure they don’t escape. Keep charcoal, fireworks, sparklers and glow sticks far from curious Independence Day is one of the most fun holidays of the year, but it’s also one of the most dangerous for our pets. View and share the ASPCA’s Summer Safety Infographic today! This infographic from PetAmberAlert.com should be very helpful on how to keep your pet safe during the 4th of July festivities. Feel free to share this pet and fireworks infographic to help other pet parents be aware of the dangers of dogs and fireworks. Many dogs and cats get lost on the Fourth of July. Jen Reeder Fourth of July frivolity and fireworks make it a fun holiday for human Americans and a scary one for our pets. The loud noises terrify 4th of July Safety Tips for Pets More pets are lost during the 4th of July holiday than any other time of year! Loud noises, fireworks, crowds and high temperatures can cause fear and distress to your pet. Take steps to ensure your pet’s safety. Fireworks may cause stress and anxiety in your pets. Dogs and cats can hear much better than we do. Learn tips to calm and protect your pets from anxiety caused by July 4th fireworks. Ensure their safety with these expert recommendations from animal shelters. Tips to prepare your pets for the 4th of July and how CBD can help by: CaSera (Cash) Heining Posted: Jun 29, 2025 / 06:45 AM CDT Updated: Jun 29, 2025 / 09:16 AM CDT It turns out that by learning about cancer in dogs, we can help people with cancer too, it’s called comparative medicine. The Fourth of July is an occasion typically marked by fireworks displays, making it a time of year that can terrify our pets. The sight and sound of fireworks may be entertaining to us, but it can cause extreme anxiety for our beloved pets. To help keep your companion safe during this summer’s Independence Day celebrations, please read over our preventative pet safety tips in the infographic Purchase pet-safe sunscreen to protect your pet from harmful rays. Your pet can become scared, escape and run away during festivities - make sure he/she is wearing a collar, tags, and is microchipped. Food and drink served to guests may be poisonous to pets. Instruct your guests not to share their food with your furry friend. 4th Of July More pets run away on the Fourth of July than on any other day of the year. July 5th is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters.. Firework safety tips for pets this Fourth of July Fireworks can cause anxiety in pets. Homeward Animal Shelter recommends medication, keeping animals indoors and ensuring they have ID tags.
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