Tri-County Humane Society Urges Pet Owners to Prepare Now for Fourth of July Fireworks

(KNSI) – As central Minnesota gears up for Fourth of July celebrations marking 250 years of American independence, Tri-County Humane Society is urging pet owners to plan ahead, warning that the holiday is one of the most common times of year for pets to go missing.

Kate Kompas, marketing and communications manager for Tri-County Humane Society, said the combination of loud fireworks, more people outdoors and more guests coming and going through open doors creates ideal conditions for a scared pet to slip away.

Kompas said the safest place for a pet on the Fourth of July is inside the house, not at a fireworks display. “People like to bring their dogs everywhere nowadays, and I understand that, but it’s not the same experience for them. It is for us. They don’t understand what fireworks are. They don’t understand that it’s 250 years of America. So keep them inside.”

Kompas recommended several steps to help anxious pets get through the noise. A brief walk earlier in the day can tire a dog out before evening fireworks begin. Weighted garments such as Thundershirts, a comforting toy, calming music or white noise, and a quiet, familiar space to retreat to can all help ease anxiety. Products such as Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs, which mimic calming pheromones, are also available without a prescription.

Identification is just as important as calming aids, according to Kompas. She recommended every pet have a collar with an up-to-date ID tag, along with a microchip registered with current contact information. She said the shelter frequently sees animals come in chipped, but with phone numbers that are no longer in service, making reunification difficult.

Nationally and locally, animal shelters see stray intake rise in the weeks around the Fourth of July.

Because Minnesota shelters are only legally required to hold a stray animal for five days, Kompas says that makes getting the word out critical for lost pets. “If your animal does go missing, you should act right away. So call us, make a loss report, call your veterinarian, call whatever city you live in, the animal control, sheriff, non-emergency number, make reports, because those five days do start ticking fast.”

Tri-County Humane Society sells ID tags for $5 plus tax and offers microchipping for $20 plus tax, with a low-cost microchip clinic planned for July in Sauk Rapids priced at $10 plus tax.

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