Experts weigh in on how to keep your pets safe and calm during the fireworks
With every pop and crackle of the holiday fireworks, your pets may experience fear and anxiety. Knowing what to expect is a good first step in mitigating that.
"I definitely encourage people to check with their neighbors and see in their direct vicinity who's going to be shooting off fireworks so you're aware," Jane MacMurchy, executive director of Animal Charity of Ohio said. "If any of your direct neighbors are because then that will give you an estimate of what time," she said.
MacMurchy said leaving your pets alone is not recommended.
"Definitely stay home with your pets definitely do not bring them to places that are going to be shooting off fireworks, keep their collar, their tags on them," she said.
If your dog isn't secured and breaks loose in response to the unfamiliar bang of a firework, Healthy Hearts and Paws will be out looking for some of them but they've already surpassed capacity.
"It makes it really difficult, all the shelters in Trumbull County are full," Jason Cooke, Healthy Hearts and Paws president said. "So it's like, where are these dogs supposed to go? We have dogs in outdoor kennels right now because we just don't have the room," he said.
Cooke urges owners to keep a close eye on their pets and where they're keeping them during fireworks displays.
"They really need to do their due diligence today, tonight, make sure their fence is secured, latches, gates. If they are going to take their pets out make sure that they're double leashed," he said.
Cooke also suggests leaving music on for your pets if you're leaving them home alone to help drown out some of that noise.
