Independence Day means fireworks, but not everyone enjoys the loud booms.

Jolita Fornuto says Manny, a Maltese Yorkie, was a gentle spirit, who would rather cuddle than play fetch.

“He was a little old soul," Fornuto said. "Funny, his name was Manny not because he reminded us of an old man, but his name suits him for that reason.”

But the 10-year-old dog frightened easily.

“Every year it would get successfully worse," Fornuto said. "He would pant, and shake. And we noticed through the years he was challenged by loud noises like thunder and fireworks.”

And though she says they took precautions, in the middle of the night during last year’s Fourth of July holiday, Manny took a sudden turn for the worse.

“He was clearly in distress. Whether he was suffering from a heart attack or stroke we’re not sure, but ultimately he passed away.” Fornuto said.

“A dogs' hearing is immensely more sensitive than ours," Gillian Hargrave, the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Lollypop Farm Humane Society of Rochester, said. "So we think the booms are really loud, imagine what our dogs feel like.”

While death is rare, Hargrave says they hear similar stories every year.

“It’s tragic. I mean, it really is tragic," Hargrave said. "And in many cases, it’s preventable.”

Hargrave recommends playing soft music or games to distract your pets, and to keep them in a place where they’re as comfortable and as isolated from the noise as possible.

“Animals don’t understand what’s happening," Hargrave said. "They don’t understand it, it's loud, it’s scary.”

In cases of extreme anxiety, she says even having a pet sitter or staying behind with the animal may be necessary. And always keep them identifiable, as the holiday brings lost pets every year.

“In the unlikely or unfortunate event that an animal does get out, you want to make sure they’re wearing a collar and tag, and ideally have a microchip just in case.” Hargrave said.

But Fornuto is asking others to do their part too, and is using flyers and social media to spread the word.

 “Have some consideration for the people around you," Fornuto said. "I think that’s what’s lacking in our neighborhoods and community, and awareness.”

She hopes others would limit their fireworks to the same time as large displays, or not use them at all in neighborhoods. Down the road, she'd like to see communities adopt silent fireworks like they have in some parts of Europe. She doesn’t want anyone to go through what she did.

“It’s shocking and certainly difficult to lose an animal unexpectedly," Fornuto said. "I think what makes it more difficult is watching an animal suffer.”