It’s a busy time of year for animal shelters. With fireworks blasting off, pets can run off and find themselves lost.

What You Need To Know

  • Marge Pizzuti, a dog owner of 55 years and retired animal control officer of 31, said animals will run and hide due to loud noises like fireworks

  • Pizzuti said she turns the TV and air conditioning on and keeps all doors and windows closed in hopes of drowning out the noise for her dog

  • Executive Director of the Dutchess County SPCA Lynne Meloccaro said the highest volume of calls come into animal shelters on July 5. She estimates those to be about four times the usual number.  

The sounds of fireworks do more than just put a chill through pets.

“They will start running and they won't stop because they're in fear of their lives that something's trying to kill them,” said Marge Pizzuti, a dog owner of about 55 years and retired animal control officer of 31 years.

Pizzuti is familiar with how animals react to fireworks and loud noises.

“They don't like ‘em. It hurts their ears, number one. Their hearing is very sensitive. It hurts their ears, and they don't understand them. They don't know where it's coming from. And some have a tendency to panic,” Pizzuti said.

As an animal control officer, Pizzuti said she constantly dealt with both missing and found dog calls during the weeks surrounding the Fourth of July.

“I remember one year, I had five lost dogs and five found dogs, and none of them matched up. They were not the same owner for the dog,” Pizzuti said. “It was, it gets very busy around the Fourth of July, and people just don't realize how scared they can get.”

Executive Director of the Dutchess County SPCA Lynne Meloccaro said the highest volume of calls also come into animal shelters on July 5. She estimates those to be about four times the usual number.  

“We always hope that it's going to be fewer pets this year because people will listen to the messages that we're trying to send and keep their pets safe,” Meloccaro said.

Pizzuti said she turns the TV and air conditioning on and keeps all doors and windows closed in hopes of drowning out the noise for her dog.

Meloccaro also suggests playing ambient music and sitting or playing with them.

“Just do something to take their minds off it, and to make them feel safe and secure,” Meloccaro said. 

It’s suggested pet owners have photos on hand and make sure their animals’ chip and ID is up to date should their pet go missing.

If you find a missing pet, contact your local shelter and share pictures to social media.