SHREVEPORT, La. - As families prepare to celebrate America's 250th birthday with fireworks, local veterinarians and animal shelters are encouraging pet owners to take time to keep their animals safe during the celebrations.
Veterinarian Andy Monceau says the Independence Day holiday is one of the busiest times of the year for emergency pet visits when loud fireworks trigger anxiety that leads to injuries.
"We anticipate being busy on the Fourth of July. We see some fireworks injuries where the dogs attack the fireworks, but a lot of it is anxiety-related injuries. Some pets are so frightened they jump through windows trying to escape, and we've seen some lacerations from that," said Monceau.
Monceau recommends pet owners keep holiday foods out of reach. Leftover barbecue, corn cobs and bones can make pets sick or cause obstructions that might need to be removed.
Experts recommend bringing pets indoors before fireworks begin and creating a quiet, secure space by turning on a television or fan to help mask the noise of fireworks. Pet owners should also clean up fireworks debris that may contain chemicals which could make an animal sick if eaten.
Animal shelters say the days surrounding the Fourth of July are among their busiest for lost pets. Katie McClure with the Northwest Louisiana Humane Society recommends pet owners update microchip and collar tag information.
"Keep your dog inside, if at all possible. Make sure that they have their collar or their tag, because we will get a lot of them. You'll see the posts on the Facebook pages where someone says their dog got out and they don't know what to do. We need to a little bit more ownership and a little bit more responsibility for our dogs because they are supposed to be part of our family," said McClure.
Updated identification greatly increases the chances of reuniting lost pets with their families after the holiday.