Protect your pet this Fourth of July holiday

After the 4th of July 2022, Zoe wandered for two
 days but couldn't find her way back home.
Photo by owner Ethan

It's no secret that more pets go missing around the Fourth of July than any other time of the year. 

The bangs, booms, and pops of fireworks can be quite scary for our furry friends, and they scamper off in search of a good hiding place.

In 2022, a Ridgecrest dog named Zoe bolted when the fireworks started and spent the next two days wandering near 185th on both sides of the freeway. (See article)

Her owners searched extensively, following all the sightings and happily found her hiding in a back yard by North City Park.

To help your pet cope with the noise from fireworks, and reduce the chances that it runs away, Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) offers these tips.

• Keep your pet secured indoors in the quietest room of your home while fireworks are going off. You can also use soothing music or television as a distraction. Some pets will stay calmer when placed in a secure crate in a darkened, quiet room.
• If your pet is normally kept outside, bring them inside or put them in a well-ventilated garage or shed or in a basement during fireworks displays.
• Make sure your pet is licensed and has an ID tag or microchip. Pets with ID have a much greater chance of being returned to their owners. If you need to license your pet and you live in the RASKC service area, you can license online.
• Some pets may benefit from prescription or over-the-counter medications to help keep them calmer. Check with your regular veterinarian for more information about these options.
• Don’t assume that your pet won’t react just because you haven’t had problems in the past. Sometimes, pets become sensitive to loud noises later in life.
• If your pet is lost, check in person at all local shelters, and check back often. It may take some time before spooked pets are brought to shelters.

Help for Owners with Missing Pets from RASKC

Owners whose pets are missing can visit kingcounty.gov/LostAPet to fill out a missing pet report and find other tips and information that can help. There is also a "View Found Pets" button on that page where owners can see information about stray pets that have been picked up by animal control officers or community members.

For those who find stray pets wandering in their neighborhood, visit kingcounty.gov/FoundAPet to complete a found pet report and read tips on how to reunite a stray pet with their owner.

RASKC is in south King county, so the chance that your missing pet is there are fairly slim.

Both Shoreline and Lake Forest Park contract with PAWS in Lynnwood. They take in strays from Edmonds, Kenmore, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, and Woodinville, as well.

They have a web page with photos of strays in custody, a place to file a missing animal report and other resources.