Animal Shelters Preparing For Influx During Fourth of July

The Cookeville-Putnam County Animal Shelter is preparing for an influx of lost animals during Fourth of July celebrations.

Shelter Director Jennifer Hutchinson-Tracy said the tradition of fireworks can scare dogs away from their homes.

“It’s largely because of all the noise. They’re scared by all the noise. If you have dogs with storm anxiety, it’s the same kind of thing,” Hutchinson-Tracy said. “You also have the element that, this is the time of year where people are getting together for outdoor activities and they bring the animals along when there’s a lot of commotion. Some things are best not to include the dogs in.”

The Cookeville-Putnam County Animal Shelter is offering discounts on adoption fees to make room for the potential influx of runaway dogs.

Hutchinson-Tracy said having animals around Fourth of July celebrations can create problems for both the animals and pet owners.

“By all means, don’t involve your dogs in the Fourth of July activities,” Hutchinson-Tracy said. “Put them in a safe, quiet, secure location and let them ride it out there. Don’t take them out and about with stuff going on. They get scared, break away, they may bite people or get in fights with other dogs. It’s all avoidable if you leave them home and safe.”

Hutchinson-Tracy said dogs aren’t the only pets that can be startled by fireworks.

“For those people who let their cats run in and out, then yes they may disappear,” Hutchinson-Tracy said, “and with a cat, they’ll get tucked into a place and lay low until they feel safe to come out again. It can take awhile to locate them, especially.”

The Cookeville-Putnam County Animal Shelter checks for microchips to reconnect lost pets with their owners. The shelter also offers microchips in each adoption at no extra charge.