State Veterinarian Urges Owners to Plan for Animal Safety During July 4 Fireworks

Secure your animals and make sure they have proper identification to keep them safe this holiday

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reminding Michiganders to take precautions during this holiday weekend to keep their animals safe.

"When celebrating Independence Day, we need to be mindful of the health and safety of our animals," said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. "All of the food, festivities, and fireworks create opportunities and circumstances for animals to run away from their homes. By planning ahead, we can make sure animals have a safe, secure place to be when the celebrations begin, causing them to be less stressed and frightened."

Taking a few simple steps can ensure everyone stays safe and has fun this holiday:

• Keep pets and livestock indoors or in barns when people are likely to set off fireworks and check on animals periodically.
• Provide a separate space away from the noise to reduce stress turning on a radio or TV may help to drown out loud noises and providing animals with a toy can help to distract them.
• Open doors to the outside carefully, so an animal does not escape.
  • If an animal does escape or you find an animal without an owner, please contact local animal control or law enforcement.
• If dogs are taken outside, make sure they are kept on a leash, even if they are in a fenced area, as they could run due to an unexpected noise.
• Never set off fireworks near animals; and before letting animals back outside, check the ground for firework debris.
• Ensure animals have ID tags or registered microchips with your current contact information.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), more animals go missing around July 4^th than any other time of the year. Fireworks can cause animals to become frightened and run away, making the days following Independence Day some of the busiest at local animal shelters.

"Microchips are a wonderful thing, but most of them do not track your dog that s a common misconception,"  said Melissa FitzGerald, Director and Animal Control Officer for the Otsego County Animal Control and Shelter. "A lot of times we'll pick up an animal, and it'll have a microchip. We'll all get excited about that, but it doesn't come back to anyone because it hasn't been registered. Please register that microchip; it takes just a few minutes to do."

For more information on how to keep your animals safe during the July 4^th holiday, please contact your veterinarian or visit the American Veterinary Medical Association's website.

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