Keep your pet safe on July 4th with these fireworks tips

The Fourth of July holiday is one many look forward to as a day to eat hot dogs, grill burgers, drink, lay out by any body of water available and finish it off with a fireworks display.

However, July 4th can be more of a nightmare than a celebration for the furry, four-legged members of your household.

Every dog and cat is different, of course. Some may not be fazed at all by fireworks noise, some may be only slightly bothered, and others (like two out of my three fur babies) consider loud fireworks displays to be the actual end of the world.

Here’s a few ways to help soothe your pets during the Fourth of July, courtesy of azhumane.org.

How do you keep pets safe on 4th of July?

If keeping your dog or cat calm during fireworks is your No. 1 Independence Day priority, here are tips from the Arizona Humane Society:

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• Ensure that your dog or cat has current ID tags and updated microchips. If they do flee from the sound of fireworks, these should greatly increase your chances of reuniting with them.
• Keep your pets indoors and distracted. The bright lights and loud sounds of fireworks can trigger your pet to run away from a perceived danger. Turn up the TV, keep all the doors shut and don't take your dog or cat to fireworks shows, even if pets are allowed.
• Know where your dog or cat is at all times. Don't leave your pets unattended outside, no matter if they are fenced in or not. Also keep an eye on them if dangerous food and alcohol are lying around.
• With the Fourth of July coming at the height of summer, panicked pets are at higher risk of heat stroke. Provide plenty of shade and fresh water and keep them off the pavement.
• Some pets may feel safer wearing a ThunderShirt. These wraps apply gentle, constant pressure to an animal's torso to help them feel safe and calm. ThunderShirts are widely available online and at pet stores.

If you see a pet in distress, call Arizona Humane Society's Emergency Animal Medical Technician hotline at 602-997-7585, ext. 2073.

Visit www.azhumane.org for more information.

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Meredith G. White covers entertainment and culture for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. She has the latest news about video games, television and things to do in metro Phoenix. Follow her on X and Instagram @meredithgwhite and on Facebook as Meredith G. White. Email her at meredith.white@arizonarepublic.com.