The Fourth of July is a holiday to celebrate, enjoy the outdoors and spend time with friends and loved ones – including the furry members of your family.
Young-Williams Animal Center reminds pet owners to consider pet safety during July 4 celebrations and throughout the hot summer months.
“Fourth of July festivities may be fun for humans, but fireworks and other summer activities may not be safe for our four-legged friends,” said Tim Adams of Young-Williams Animal Center. “And with the extreme heat we’ve seen lately, it’s especially important to make sure your pets are safe from the dangers of summer heat.”
- Pets who become anxious or stressed by thunderstorms may also be frightened by fireworks. Pets with noise phobias will try to “escape” the noise and may try to run away. If possible, keep pets at home and indoors; provide a safe den-like place for the pet, such as a crate or carrier; and leave soothing music playing to provide noise distraction. If you must bring your pet outside during fireworks, be sure to keep it on a leash or in a crate.
- Be careful to keep holiday decorations away from pets, as they can choke or get sick from eating balloons, confetti and other party décor. Fireworks contain chemicals that are poisonous to animals if ingested, so keep pets away from unused fireworks as well as any debris from spent fireworks. If your pet ingests something foreign, contact your veterinarian, your nearest emergency animal clinic or the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680.
- Outdoor holiday celebrations and summer get-togethers often include grills, campfires, torches, citronella candles and other fire sources in addition to fireworks. Keep pets away from any flame source including matches and lighter fluid. Pet hair can catch on fire easily, and pets may try to sniff or eat these dangerous items.
- On July 4 and all summer long, always provide your pet with plenty of fresh water and access to shade. Even healthy pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to heat.
- Never leave an animal alone in the car, even while running a “quick errand.” The inside of a car can heat to extremely dangerous temperatures very quickly – up to 120 degrees in just a few minutes – even with windows open. Pets trapped in hot cars will develop heat stroke, which can lead to death.
- Do not use insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for animals on your pet. It can cause skin irritation or make them ill if they lick it off.
- Don’t leave pets unsupervised around pools, lakes or the ocean. Not all dogs are naturally strong swimmers. Take precautions on boats and consider using a lifejacket for your pet.
- Make sure your pet is on flea, tick and heartworm prevention medications. This is necessary year round, but it’s crucial in the summertime.
- Don’t let pets drink from or play in driveway puddles, which can contain coolant and other automotives fluids that can be hazardous to pets.
- Make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date and your pet is spayed or neutered, as animals are more active and social outdoors in the summer. This is especially important if you are taking your dog to the park or around other dogs.
- As people and pets spend time outside during summer, pets are more likely to become lost. Make sure your pet’s ID tag and microchip information is up-to-date. If your pet is lost, don’t forget to check Young-Williams Animal Center’s Lost and Found office.
For more information about Young-Williams Animal Center, visit www.knoxpets.org or call 865-215-6599. To meet adoptable animals, visit Young-Williams Animal Center at 3201 Division St. or Young-Williams Animal Village at 6400 Kingston Pike.
About Young-Williams Animal Center
Young-Williams Animal Center reminds the community to please spay and neuter your pets.
The Young-Williams Animal Center is the official animal shelter for Knox County and the City of Knoxville. The center is a nonprofit organization, community-supported through public and private donations, that turns no animal away and is dedicated to the sheltering and placement of animals, general animal welfare, and public education of companion animal issues.
Young-Williams Animal Center is located off Sutherland Avenue at the entrance to John Tarleton Park at 3201 Division St. and is open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from 1-6 p.m. Young-Williams Animal Village is located at 6400 Kingston Pike adjacent to Deane Hill Drive and offers animal adoptions seven days a week from noon-6 p.m.
For more information about Young-Williams Animal Center, including detailed driving directions, call 865-215-6599 or visit http://www.knoxpets.org.
