As people celebrate our country’s great independence by celebrating and watching firework demonstrations, the Fayette Humane Society would like to pass along safety tips for your pets. Every year, the humane society receives several calls after the holiday celebrations to report their pets missing.

If you attend a fireworks demonstration, please leave your pets at home. The noise from the fireworks are not enjoyable to pets as it makes them very nervous and scared. If you are celebrating with fireworks at home, place your pet into a safe and secure location such as a room that blocks most noise and the flashing lights.

Play relaxing music for them to help distract the loud noises outside from the fireworks, and providing pets with toys will also help distract them. Many pets become frightened and escape because they are sensitive to the loud noises and abnormal flashes of light that they are not used to on a daily basis. Pets may bust through windows and out of screened doors to escape the frightening noises. This may cause pets who attempt escape to become severely injured.

“This weekend is the biggest time when pets become lost because they become scared and run from all the strange noises associated with the fireworks. Keep them in a safe and quiet area. If your pets live outdoors, it is a good idea to bring them into a quiet and safe enclosure to prevent escape,” said Brad Adams, outreach director.

Additionally, and as always, the Fayette Humane Society encourages pet owners to provide their pet with identification should they become lost. A pet wearing identification will help the pet get back home a lot quicker.

The Fayette Humane Society is a non-profit (501(c)(3), volunteer organization. The organization receives less than 2 percent of its support from governmental organizations and therefore must rely on donations, grants and fundraising to carry out its mission. The Humane Society is the only organization in Fayette County able to respond to calls about abused and neglected and domestic animals, 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

This article was submitted by the Fayette Humane Society.