Dozens of blogs and news sources are promoting 4th of July safety awareness for pet owners. Many are focusing on keeping pets calm and bringing them inside when fireworks begin. Yet there are ways we can protect our pets, and others, by preparing in advance with responsible pet ownership.This week will be the busiest time of the year for local animal shelters, as hundreds of frightened pets escape and roam the streets for animal control to find and rescue. The arrival of these new animals in the shelter will cause overcrowding, and pets who once had a chance at adoption may be euthanized. In addition, pet owners will pay a heavy fines to reclaim their pets and in some cases update their expired licenses. Couldn't we save ourselves some trouble if we took some precautions with our pets before the 4th of July?
Many of the pets who land in shelters will not be microchipped. This will make it very difficult for owners to find them, as frightened dogs and cats can travel far from home. One glance through the San Diego County animal control's lost and found website should demonstrate the challenges of picking your pet out of the crowd, Especially when he or she may be dirty, matted, or injured. It may also take some time for animal control to upload photos of all the lost pets resulting from 4th of July fireworks. Please save the county, and yourselves some time and anguish by microchipping your pets before the 4th of July. Here's how:
The county of San Diego will microchip your dog, cat or rabbit for $20.00 at any of their clinics. Here is a clinic schedule:
http://www.sddac.com/clinics.asp
The Humane Society of San Diego will also microchip your pet at their Oceanside campus for $25.00 . For further information, click the link below:
http://www.sdhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=res_microchip_nc
If you are not sure if your pet is microchipped, or if you have lost the number, most veterinarians can scan the pet and give you the microchip ID number.
Another important point to remember is that many of 4th of July revelers start their partying early in the day. Our neighbors will begin testing fireworks as early as July 1. Do not underestimate the cultural tendency to "get this party started" a little bit before schedule. If you plan on beginning the search for your outdoor cat on the afternoon of July 4th, you may be surprised when you do not find him. Be proactive and bring your cat inside at least a day before the fireworks begin.
If you normally leave your dog in the yard while you are at work, you may want to make other arrangements this week. Frightened dogs often gain extraordinary jumping ability and manage to hurl themselves over fences that they have never surmounted before. Tying your dog out is not a good option, as 4th of July reports of dogs strangling themselves on tethers are very common. Keep your dog in the house if you have to work on the fourth, and find a licensed pet sitter, doggie day care facility, or close family friend or relative who can let the dog out for exercise and potty time. The cost of this will be far less than the potential cost of retrieving your dog from the animal shelter and tending to whatever injuries he may have incurred on his travels.
Finally, please spay and neuter your pets so that if they do escape during the 4th of July festivities, you are not contributing to the pet overpopulation problem. The United States kills 4 to 5 million cats and dogs in shelters per year, largely as a result of accidental breeding. SNAP San Diego has low cost spay and neuter options for pet owners. Responsible pet ownership starts here, and now is a great time to talk about it. Keep your pets secure by thinking ahead, and have a safe and happy 4th of July.
