‘The Day of Missing Pets’

"The day of missing pets." It sounds like the title of a bad movie, but that's what the Heritage Humane Society of Williamsburg, Virginia, calls July 4. Shelters and animal control facilities consistently claim to see an increase of 30% to 60% in lost pets brought to them from July 4 to 6 every year.

There's a reason July was chosen as National Lost Pet Prevention Month. From daylong noshfests to loud, scary noises at all hours, Independence Day and the days before and after it is a dangerous time for pets, whether alone at home or in an unfamiliar environment with plenty of hazards.

A major reason to keep your pet safely at home over the holiday period: "Shelter overcrowding is a crisis," says Adam Claar, behavior and training manager at Heritage Humane Society. "We love what we do, but after the pandemic, a lot of shelters, especially in the South, don't have the space to house your lost dog or cat even for a day. Prevention is key."

July 4 isn't just about lost animals. Two-thirds of Americans have one or more pets. That's hundreds of millions of domesticated animals to keep track of over a long weekend when people travel, cook outside, picnic, drink, swim, leave gates open, get too much sun and set off unsupervised explosives — all before the main event.

All kinds of things are bad for animals to ingest. We all know (right?) that chocolate is bad for dogs and alcohol harms any animal. The American Veterinary Medical Association offers this list of foods no pet should eat. To that, Davina Catbagan of Cherrydale Veterinary Services in Arlington, Virginia, adds dairy products, salt, yeast dough and caffeine; smaller dogs will be affected more than larger ones.

She recommends keeping the ASPCA Poison Control Center number handy in case your vet's unavailable: 888-426-4435 (charges apply).

"A general rule of thumb for holiday dangers is if you wouldn't want a toddler playing with or eating something, you probably shouldn't let your pet do so either," Catbagan says. "Citronella candles may smell interesting to some pets and can cause stomach upset if ingested."

The American Veterinary Medical Association also warns against dangers that people may not consider, like hot charcoal and kabob skewers. "Dogs are curious," says Pam Wiese, president and CEO of the Nebraska Humane Society in Omaha. If you have a "counter surfer," keep it leashed or staked well away from food, drinks, marijuana and so on.

Even then, monitor your dog for, as Catbagan puts it, that "well-meaning toddler who would love to share her grapes with the sweet puppy." 

"No one wants diarrhea tomorrow — or worse," adds Wiese. "Glow sticks are fun to chew on until they break and the toxic insides come out."

If you're traveling with your pet this holiday, arrange for its care. "It's one thing for a microchipped local dog to flee," says Claar. "If an out-of-town dog slips its collar, it's very tough to find the owners."

His top advice, shared by many: "Your dog does not want to go to the fireworks display. That's cruel and ridiculous. It's very selfish. 'I'll hold on to them' is not a viable plan."

In many neighborhoods, though, unofficial fireworks and sirens keep things noisy all day long. If you leave Fido or Fluffy at home when you go out on July 4, plan for your pet's comfort and safety — and the safety of your belongings. A scared animal can be a destructive animal.

That may mean engaging a petsitter and/or rearranging your home. Wiese and Claar advise closing windows to reduce outside noise. Leave air conditioning on as well as the TV or radio at low volume. Close shades and drapes to keep flashes of light out. Exercise your dog before leaving home.

Anxiety vests, which hold pets closely to minimize stress, can help to calm pets and silicone lick mats or frozen stuffable toys can occupy and distract them. You might consult a veterinarian about scents, chews and other pheromone and herb-based products that, according to some pet owners, promote calm and relaxation. "They take a little edge off," says Wiese. Sedation is an option for extremely terrorized animals.

Inevitably, whether home alone or in the crowd at a barbecue or party, some pets get away. Cats will dash and hide. Dogs will jump or dig.

Perhaps the most surprising advice: "Don't call your dog," says Kat Albrecht, a former police bloodhound handler and crime scene investigator turned founder of the Missing Animal Response Network in Bellingham, Washington. "Some dogs spooked by fireworks or something else will be so terrified, they won't even come to their owners."

A frightened dog's likely response is to keep running even if you call its name, whistle or slap your thighs. Instead, she says, try singing. This is something no other person is doing. If you get close, sit or lie down and look away, which will calm the dog. "Do not chase after them," she emphasizes.

Cats "are more likely to hunker down nearby," says Claar, often in tiny spaces — drainpipes, fireplace flues, deep under a porch. If skittish, Albrecht notes, they might remain there until death. Search deeply hidden spots in a three- to five-house radius (a little more for an outdoor cat) — asking neighbors to let you poke into sheds and under detritus. It's against human nature to poke around in this manner, but merely asking neighbors "Have you seen my cat?" is rarely successful in finding a lost pet, she says.

No luck? Try social media. Even before shelters and animal control facilities open on July 5, says Claar, someone may have found your pet and posted its photo or description online. Try "lost pet" forums there and on shelter websites.

Here's where preparation pays off. Have a clear color photo of your pet for social media or fliers. A microchipped dog or cat is more than twice as likely to be returned as one without a chip, according to a 23-state study published in 2009. "Ask your veterinarian to scan the microchip during your pet's annual wellness exam" to be sure its information is up to date, says the AVMA.

Keep your animal's collar tags updated, too. Use tags even if your pet has a microchip, says Wiese. That way a neighbor can phone or text, which is faster and cheaper than going through a shelter.

If pets had a vote, July 4 might be their least favorite holiday. Upsetting foods, crowds, loud noises, flashy lights, Mom or Dad not home — who needs it?

This holiday, while Catbagan's kids are out screaming with their friends, her dogs will stay indoors. The more anxious one will be on pretested anti-anxiety meds, in his favorite room with the blinds drawn, music on and a trusted companion by his side.

"Because we're creating this cacophony of noise and frightening and unfamiliar experiences for our pets," says Wiese, "the human and humane thing to do is to give them as comfortable a place to withstand this as you can."

That may mean watching the fireworks on TV. Especially if your pet is nervous or skittish, "consider staying home," says Albrecht. "Sit on the couch and cuddle up. It's safe and cozy." That way, you've got a restroom close by, no traffic and no trauma.