News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Independence Day can be fun for the family, but not so much for pets.
McMinnville Public Works’ Lyndon Bussell said there is usually a spike in missing pets around the 4th of July because animals get spooked by fireworks and run away. He said he recommends making sure your pet is easily identifiable.
“By having a good tag with the pet’s name, address, or a phone number that would be their owner to get a hold of,” Bussell said. “Or make sure if they are chipped, that their chip has the most up-to-date information.”
Bussell said it is also important to make sure indoor pets feel comfortable during fireworks shows. He said the best way to do this is by blocking out the light and noise.
“The best thing to do is to create a good safe environment inside your house,” Bussell said. “Maybe pull the curtains shut, put on some music, have the TV going, something like that,”
Bussell said a common mistake people make is locking an indoor pet in one single room during firework shows.
“Try not to lock them in a single room, because they can get a little more anxious with fireworks going off and being in a room,” Bussell said. “So it might be good to let them roam the house a bit. Let them come and go from their safe space.”
Busell said he does not recommend taking most pets with you to see fireworks because of the people and traffic around. He said however if you know your pet is calm and can handle it, then it could be okay to bring them, but to still be cautious.
