Fireworks and Dogs? That's a Big NO!

Summer’s almost here, and we’re almost to July 4th! That means parties, celebrations, and fireworks. But for our furry friends, fireworks can be scary and frightening. Last year, we got a lot of calls on the day of and the days after July 4th, asking for help finding lost dogs and other animals because of the fireworks. While we’re always happy to help find lost animals, we also think it’s important to let pet owners know about the risks of fireworks. Even pets that are usually calm can get anxious, from a little anxiety to full on severe panic. To keep your pets safe during fireworks, here are some tips:

1. Don’t leave your pets outside during fireworks. If you have pets that live outside, bring them inside for the short time during the fireworks.

2. Make sure your pets have a safe place to hide before you go to a fireworks celebration. If your pet is crate-trained, they’ll feel the safest in their crate. But small rooms or closets can also work well. Make sure your pet has their collar on with your contact information. You can also use GPS collars, which are getting better and better.

3. Give your pet something to distract them. Toys, treats, calming music, or white noise can help take their mind off the noise. Make sure your pet has plenty of clean water.

4. Think about staying home. Your pets might feel more comfortable and calmer with you at home.

5. Exercise your pet closer to the fireworks time to help tire them out.

6. Talk to your vet about calming supplements to help reduce your pet’s anxiety.

7. Lastly, and I can’t say this enough, DO NOT BRING YOUR PETS TO THE FIREWORKS SHOW. It may seem obvious, but I have seen it happen. Think about it this way: would you bring a baby to a fireworks show? No way! And if you did, would you leave their ears uncovered? Of course not! Now, imagine a dog with super-human hearing, I’d be running for my life too!

We all want to have a blast celebrating our country, but as pet owners, we have a special responsibility to keep our pets safe and sound. Let’s all remember this during the upcoming July 4th celebration.

We can take all the necessary precautions to keep our pets from getting lost, but sometimes, no matter what we do, our pets can still become lost. If that happens, don’t worry, we’re here to help! We can use our thermal drones to search for your lost pets if needed.

Peace, Love, and Safe Flying!