Providence shelters see uptick in lost animals after 4th of July

PROVIDENCE, RI —  Fireworks can be a great way to spend your holiday, but if you’re a pet owner you probably know how stressful it can be for your furry friends.

Local shelters told ABC 6 News the days around the Fourth of July are some of the busiest they see all year.

“We’re always giving people the heads up when you can predict certain stressors. Like whether it’s thunderstorms on the way, or it’s fireworks. That’s why we’re always advocating for microchipping your pets.” Providence Animal Rescue League’s Nate DeSalvo said.

DeSalvo said they received more calls than usual asking to keep an eye out for a missing pet, but according to Providence Animal Control, it was actually an easier week than they were expecting.

“So, we had a handful of dogs that got out, but they’ve all been returned to owners,” Erika Cole said. “We kind of do see that over the weekend you know as people are out and about Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That’s when we do impound the most dogs, but normally by the end of the following week they’ve gone home.”

Cole said they brought in around a dozen dogs this weekend, which is nearly double what they’d normally see, but still down for the time of year.

She said that’s due to many events being rained out this year.

“It’s really weather dependent, it was a little hot, and as you know on the Fourth of July, it was mostly rainy., so the weather does play a big factor,” Cole said.

Shelter staff said there are some tips to keep in mind if you’re worried about your pet running off.

“First and foremost, make sure your pet is secured,” DeSalvo said. “You know, so windows, make sure window screens aren’t coming out. Make sure anybody who’s coming and going is closing doors or gates or anything like that that’s going to prevent your pet from fleeing in the case that something scares them. We don’t want them leaving home.” 

Shelter staff also recommend taking steps ahead of time, whether it’s with ambient noise, medication, or things like thunder blankets.

Providence Animal Control also recommended keeping an up-to-date photo of your pet.