Regional Animal Services of King County help keep pets from straying this Fourth of July

The Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) are preparing for an increase in their animal population come the Fourth of July. Each year around Independence Day, animal shelters start to fill up with animals that have strayed from home after being spooked by the loud bangs of fireworks. For the third year running RASKC is assisting Missing Pet Partnership to locate stray pets after next week’s holiday through the “Mission Reunite: Help and Hope for Lost Pets” program.

“Pets don’t understand what the noise is all about, and they can get frightened very easily,” said Dr. Gene Mueller, RASKC Manager. “In addition, their hearing is far more sensitive than ours, so loud noises have an even bigger impact on our pets.”

The program has come up with a helpful checklist for pet owners to reduce the chances of their pets running away during the loud festivities. Check out the pointers below:

• Keep your pet secured indoors in the quietest room of your home while fireworks are audible. You can also use soothing music or television as a distraction. Some pets will stay calmer when placed in a secure crate in a darkened, quiet room.
• If your pet is normally kept outside, bring them inside or put them in a garage or basement while fireworks are going off.
• Make sure your pet has at least two forms of identification. This can be a pet license and personalized tag, a license and a microchip, or all three (license, tag, and microchip). Pets with ID have a much greater chance of being returned to their owners.
• Don’t assume that your pet won’t react just because you haven’t had problems in the past. Sometimes, pets become sensitive to loud noises later in life.
• If your pet is lost, check in person at all local shelters, and check back often. It may take some time before spooked pets are brought to shelters.

If your pet does escape RASKC will be ready to assist. Starting Wednesday, July 3 through Monday, July 8, volunteers in the Mission Reunite program will be deployed at the King County Pet Adoption Center to help people looking for lost animals. A “Lost Pets” booth will be open during regular business hours at the center, 21615 64th Ave. S. in Kent.

“Many lost animals can be found, but it takes time. Too many families give up too soon, and eventually their pets end up in an animal shelter and then get adopted out,” said Sarah Luthens, RASKC Volunteer Program Manager.

Owners of stray pets can click here to visit the Missing Pet Partnership website, or call RASKC at 206-296-3936 for help.