Happy 4th of July! 7 ways to make it fun for animals, too!

Happy Independence Day! We hope you have a fun-filled day planned with your friends and family, including the non-human ones!

One problem: when fireworks go off, dogs and cats have no way of knowing the “Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang!” is just for fun. They’re thinking: “I gotta get OUT of here, now!” That’s why more companion animals get lost on the 4th of July than any other day of the year.

Here are some tips for keeping them safe when fireworks are going off:

1. If you go out for the evening, leave them home, INDOORS, in a room where they can’t hurt themselves: for example, by crashing through a window, knocking over a lamp, or locking themselves in a closet! Oh, yes, they will!

I am NOT coming out of here!

2. Ideally you have a friend or family member who isn’t into crowds/loud noises/90-degree heat/traffic and will be delighted to stay home with your animals. Not that we know anybody like that :)

3. Some say it helps to use soft music to cover up the noise of the fireworks.

4. Remember your neighbors may set off their own fireworks at unusual times, like midnight on July 3rd or 4th.

5. As always, make sure your dog has an up-to-date ID tag on their collar at all times. Also consider microchipping your dog or cat.

6. If the worst happens and your animal does bolt and get lost, call the local animal shelters immediately, to see if someone found them.

7. Fireworks also send stray dogs and cats, and wild animals, into a panic. Birds sometimes abandon their nests and never return. Other animals dash into the street and get hit by cars. Consider asking your community to use a quieter method of celebrating, such as a laser show.

When fireworks go off, stray dogs and cats have no one to hug them and say, "It's OK. Nobody's gonna hurt you." They have no one to protect them from the very real dangers they face every day, such as starvation, injury, and being deliberately killed.

At 600 Million Dogs, our goal is to save entire future generations of stray animals from suffering. To learn more, visit the rest of our website!

Please consider a gift of any amount. Thank you, and have a happy and relaxing 4th!