Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter releases tips for keeping pets safe this Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and with that comes an uptick in the number of lost pets because of the loud noises. With that in mind, the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter has released safety tips to make sure it’s a great holiday for both pets and their people.

These are the recommendations the animal shelter put out:

Don’t take pets to fireworks displays. If it’s loud to humans, it’s louder to dogs. They can hear sounds up to 60,000 cycles per second, which is three times higher than the human ear can register. Don’t leave pets in cars. This tip applies to more than just the Fourth of July. The air in the car gets hot and, within a few minutes, pets can suffer serious health effects or die. The shelter says partially opened window does not give a pet more air, but it does give someone an opportunity to steal the pet. Keep pets indoors in a quiet area. When animals are scared, they can sometimes be destructive. Make sure to keep them away from anything you do not want destroyed or that could be harmful to them. The shelter recommends you put pets in a quiet, secure room or a blanketed crate. It could also help to have a TV or radio playing at normal volume. Exercise your pet. It could help to tire them out earlier in the day. If your pet is afraid of loud noises, talk to your vet. Your pet’s veterinarian may know ways to help with the pet’s fear or anxiety. Don’t leave pets outside unattended. The shelter says fenced yards or chains are not sufficient. Pets could escape and get lost or get tangled in their chain. Make sure pets are wearing their ID tags. If your pet is lost, this could increase the chances that they will be returned. The shelter says having two forms of ID, usually tags and a microchip, is best.

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter will be open on July Fourth from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m for stray animal drop-off and redemption.