SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4 Utah) – Fourth of July celebrations can be loud and frightening for some of our furry best friends. Fireworks, among other things, can create anxiety for pets – especially cats and dogs.
Best Friends Animal Society is sharing their top five tips to keep pets healthy, safe, and home during the holiday weekend:
- Bring all pets indoors before fireworks displays in your area.
- Dogs and cats will appreciate a quiet room, with the windows closed, curtains drawn, and their favorite toys, bed, or blanket.
- Calming music or the TV can help drown out the sound of fireworks outside.
- If setting off fireworks at home, clean up all trash and any leftover materials from the explosives before letting pets back in the area.
- Fireworks typically contain a variety of chemicals and heavy metals that are toxic to pets if ingested.
- Summer barbecues are often filled with food that can be toxic to dogs and cats, like avocados, grapes, ice cream, and onions.
- For a cool and pet-friendly treat, try freezing pet-approved fruits and vegetables like watermelon, blueberries, or carrots.
- When making plans for the holiday weekend, think ahead and make arrangements so pets can be comfortable at home.
- Events like parades or fireworks displays can be stressful or even dangerous for pets.
- Always make sure pets wear up-to-date identification tags with your current contact information.
- Having updated contact information available on an id tag or microchip will help pets and their people be reunited should they get spooked and run off.
- Save contact information for your local emergency veterinary clinic and nearby shelters ahead of time in case of an emergency.
The Best Friends Pet Lifesaving Center in Salt Lake City is located at 2005 S 1100 E in Sugar House.
Join Best Friends at the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Sugarhouse this Friday (July 4) for a walk-in foster event. There will be snacks, giveaways, and of course lots of dogs and cats looking for a temporary home for the holiday!…