Fourth can be painful for pets

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Many people will have fun this Fourth of July, but it can be a hard holiday for pets. Here's how to keep your four legged friends safe:

Suni, Tank, and Maggie enjoyed a quite evening at the Dog Park in Lafayette, but all three dogs will be in doors when the fireworks fly.

"Sometimes people are not very safe with their fireworks, so I just want to keep them inside because I don't know if they are scared and I don't know what their reaction will be and they might run away," said Kathy Faulkner, owner of two dogs.

"It's a loud noise," explained Bernard Wulle of Crystal Creek Dog Kennel in Americus. "The don't know what's coming they don't understand the situation."

Every year around the Fourth five to 10 lost dogs find their way to his shelter.

"They can pull chains, break chains, cable," said Wulle. "They can get through fences you think they never could get through."

"It would be terrible. I would be heart broken if they ran away," exclaimed Faulkner.

Be aware the fire works happen later at night, so try to plan walks with your pet for earlier in the evening so dogs won't be startled when the fireworks go off.

"I will probably take them out earlier than usual," said Faulkner.

Secure pets afraid of loud noises indoors if possible. There are also some precautions you can take in case your pet does panic and run from home.

"Make sure the collar has tags. We can call the vet if it has rabies tags to find the owner. Put on the inside of the collar a phone number. We always check there. They can also micro chip their dog, but make sure to register it," said Wulle.

Many times runaway pets return home, but if not, continue checking shelters for several weeks.