--- title: "How to keep your pets safe this Fourth of July" description: "The days around July 4 are the busiest of the year for animal shelters in Los Angeles and across the country, as fireworks send frightened pets bolting from yards and homes. A few simple precautions — updated ID, a quiet room, a checked gate — go a long way toward keeping your animal safe." category: "Los Angeles" category_url: https://herald.la/category/los-angeles author: "Tyler Grant" published: 2026-06-26T23:31:17.000Z updated: 2026-06-26T23:31:17.000Z canonical: https://herald.la/article/how-to-keep-your-pets-safe-this-fourth-of-july tags: ["pets", "fourth-of-july", "fireworks", "pet-safety", "service"] --- # How to keep your pets safe this Fourth of July The days around July 4 are the busiest of the year for animal shelters in Los Angeles and across the country, as fireworks send frightened pets bolting from yards and homes. A few simple precautions — updated ID, a quiet room, a checked gate — go a long way toward keeping your animal safe. For people, fireworks are the centerpiece of the Fourth of July. For pets, they are a terror — sudden, loud and inexplicable. The predictable result is the year's biggest surge of lost animals: dogs and cats that bolt from yards and slip through doors, ending up miles from home. The [American Veterinary Medical Association](https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/july-4-safety) notes that more pets go missing around July 4 than at any other time of year, and the [ASPCA](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/fourth-july-safety-tips) says nearly one in five lost pets goes missing after being scared by loud noises. In Southern California the pattern is well known. [LA Animal Services](https://www.laanimalservices.com/4th-of-july) warns its shelters can fill beyond capacity in the days after the holiday, and [OC Animal Care](https://www.ocpetinfo.com/news/july-4th-weekend-busiest-time-year-local-shelters) calls the weekend its busiest of the year. Here is what to do. ## Before the holiday **Update ID and microchip records now.** A collar tag is the fastest route home, but tags fall off; a microchip is the permanent backup — and only works if your contact details in the registry are current. Log in and confirm your phone number today. If your pet isn't chipped, many vets and shelters offer it at low cost. Take a fresh photo of each pet, too, in case you need to share one. **Walk your fence line.** Look for gaps, loose boards or low spots a panicked dog could clear or push through. Check that gates latch and screen doors can't be nudged open from inside. An animal that has never tested your fence may do so in a full fright response. **Talk to your veterinarian.** If your pet has shown noise anxiety before — pacing, hiding, panting — your vet can discuss calming options, from supplements to prescription medication. Both the AVMA and ASPCA stress trying any medication before the holiday, not for the first time on the night itself. ## During the fireworks The single most effective step is simple: **don't take your pet to fireworks displays**, and keep them indoors when shows begin. The AVMA recommends settling pets in a secure interior room or crate, away from windows. Mask the noise with a fan, air conditioner, white-noise machine or TV. Keep them occupied — a stuffed chew or food puzzle can redirect a mildly anxious dog. Cats usually feel safest hiding; give them a covered bed or quiet closet and don't force them out. Snug-fitting anxiety wraps help some dogs. And make sure every guest knows not to let a pet slip out an open door. ## After the show Before letting pets out the next morning, scan your yard for fireworks debris. Spent shells and residue can contain chemicals that are harmful if chewed or swallowed, the ASPCA warns. ## If your pet goes missing Act fast; the first 24 hours matter most. - **Visit shelters in person** — online databases lag. LA Animal Services runs shelters across the city; LA County Animal Care & Control covers unincorporated areas; OC Animal Care serves Orange County. - **File a lost-pet report** with every nearby jurisdiction, not just your own. - **Use free photo-matching tools** such as Petco Love Lost, and post on Nextdoor and neighborhood groups with a clear photo. - **Check back daily** — strays can take several days to come in. ## Other holiday hazards Keep pets away from the grill and table scraps — onions, grapes, raisins, chocolate and yeast dough are all toxic to dogs and cats, per the ASPCA, as are alcohol and glow sticks. If you suspect a poisoning, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is reachable at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). The holiday is one night. Updated ID, a quiet room and a latched gate are usually all it takes to keep your animal home and safe. ## Sources - [Fourth of July Safety Tips](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/fourth-july-safety-tips) - [July 4 Safety](https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/july-4-safety) - [4th of July Pet Safety](https://www.laanimalservices.com/4th-of-july)