Keep Your Pets Safe This 4th of July

This 4^th of July, Palm Beach County Public Safety Department Animal Care and Control Division (PBCACC) wants to ensure that pet owners know the best ways to keep their furry friends safe.

Many pets can get easily frightened or overwhelmed during holidays like the 4^th of July due to large groups of people gathering, guests coming in and out of the house, and fireworks. On average, animal shelters see a 30-60% increase in lost pets between July 4-6. July 4^th is the #1 day for lost pets in the United States, so being prepared and vigilant is crucial.

The best way to ensure a pet is returned to its owner is to ensure they not only have a microchip but also that their microchip information is up to date. PBCACC scans every pet that arrives at the shelter for a microchip and makes multiple attempts to contact the owner registered on the pet's chip via letter, email, and phone call. Microchip information does not update automatically when a pet is adopted; it is the responsibility of the new owner to register the microchip with a registry and keep information such as address and phone number up to date.

Don't know your pet's microchip number? Check their adoption paperwork for the chip number, or bring them to a local veterinary clinic to have the chip scanned.

While microchips are the best way to ensure a lost pet is reunited, PBCACC encourages pet owners to take other precautions to ensure pets don't get lost in the first place.

• Take dogs on walks earlier in the evening so they don't have to be outside during fireworks displays.
• Create a safe space in the home with familiar toys and blankets and white noise to mask sound.
• Pet-proof the home by locking all doors, gates, and windows (and remind guests to be mindful of closing doors behind them).

Pets can go missing even in the best circumstances, so if a pet does manage to escape their home this holiday weekend, make sure they are posted to PBCACC's SNAP "lost" page as soon as possible and keep checking the "found" page to see if your pet has been located. All lost and found pets can be searched at pbc.gov/SNAP. Pet owners are also encouraged to visit the shelter to view pets that were found stray. Kennels open for viewing every day at noon.

PBCACC is dedicated to promoting the health, safety, and welfare of both people and animals in the community.

For more information on PBCACC's services, please visit our website or contact us directly. Join PBCACC in making Palm Beach County a safe and compassionate place for all animals.

Contact Information:

• Website: pbcgov.org/animal
• Phone: 561-233-1200
• Address: 7100 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach, FL, 33411

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