It's expected to be a busy day at animal shelters, and you
can thank the Fourth of July.
While celebrating America's birthday is full of fun,
pets aren't big fans. Look no further than local animal shelters for proof.
Exploding fireworks and neighborhood firecrackers are noisy,
stressful, and even terrifying for pets, and many end up running away.
In fact, July 5 is usually the busiest day of the
year for Hillsborough County Animal Services – since that's where many of those
panicked dogs and cats wind up.
"People are
just shocked at what their own dog, even an older dog, will do to escape the
stress," Marti Ryan of animal services said. "And don't punish your animal if
it starts to act a little unusual, you know, starts to be extra clingy or whiney
or has a little accident. Stress makes people do funny things, and it's the
same with animals."
If your pet runs
off, experts say the best thing to do is check your local shelters early and
often. In Hillsborough, animal services opens at 9 a.m.
