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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LA Animal Services Media Contacts: 
Agnes Sibal-von Debschitz, (213) 482-9512 or agnes.sibal@lacity.org
Justin Khosrowabadi, (213) 482-9551 or justin.khosrowabadi@lacity.org

Pet Safety Tips for a 

Safe and Happy 4th of July Celebration

Los Angeles, June 28, 2022 – For many of us, the 4th of July celebrations include fireworks, picnics, and barbeques, which can be great fun for people, but can be frightening and even dangerous for our animal companions. The festive foods served can be harmful to pets while loud noises and bright, streaking lights from fireworks can scare animals and cause our furry family members to escape their homes and yards, roam lost in the streets, and make their way into shelters across the City

 

So as you plan and celebrate Independence Day, LA Animal Services would like to share the following pet safety tips to keep you and your pets safe during and after the 4th of July festivities. Be sure to follow us this week on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram as we post daily reminders to keep these 4th of July pet safety tips top of mind.


Pet Safety for Dogs, Cats, and Rabbits

 

Keep away from fireworks.

Fireworks are illegal in the City of Los Angeles. You can prevent potential burns, injuries, or possible ingestion by keeping all pets out of the vicinity of fireworks and asking friends and neighbors to avoid using them. Even if your pet does not seem obviously upset by fireworks, they can still cause harm to pets. 


To report fireworks in your neighborhood, you may call LAPD’s non-emergency number at 877-275-5273 or file a complaint online.


No festive foods for pets.

Avoid the urge to feed your pets table scraps or other foods intended for people. Be especially careful to keep them away from common foods that are potentially toxic to pets, like onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes, raisins, salt, and yeast dough.


Keep your dogs, cats, and rabbits indoors and create a calm environment.

The best way to keep your pets safe is to make sure they stay indoors and in an enclosed room, if possible. If you allow your dog outside, be sure that your gates or fence are secure or that your pet stays on a leash. 

 

If hosting a gathering w/friends, try creating a safe place in your home where your pet can have some quiet space away from your company like a room that is off-limits to guests, or a familiar crate with their favorite toys or comforting blanket. For bunnies, provide extra places for them to hide within their living spaces (like an extra hidey hole). You can also play calm and soothing music and keep the room as quiet as possible. In addition, closing doors, windows, and blinds will also help to distract pets from the sounds of fireworks. 

Ensure your pet has an up-to-date ID.

Reunite with your furry family member right away! Ensure your dog, cat, or rabbit is wearing a microchip with your current contact information, or that your canine and feline friend is wearing a collar or harness with a current license and/or ID tag.

 

For information on getting or renewing your dog’s license, visit:

laanimalservices.com/laws-policies/animal-licenses.

 

If your pet is not microchipped, contact LA Animal Services and schedule an appointment to have your companion animal microchipped. We’re currently offering complimentary microchips for pets (while supplies last). Please schedule an appointment by going online or calling (888) 452-7381. Most veterinary clinics also offer microchipping!


Look for your lost pet right away. According to an ASPCA survey, about half of missing dogs and a third of missing cats were found by searching their local neighborhoods. 

 

We encourage people who have lost their dog or cat to post a photo and description of the pet on LA City Lost and Found PetsNextdoor.com, or Pawboost.comto improve the chances of reuniting with their companion animals. 

 

In addition to using social media, LA Animal Services also suggests that individuals who are able to do so, provide temporary home care for lost or stray companion animals in their neighborhood through our Shelter-at-Home program. Shelter-at-Home expands LA Animal Services’ foster program and increases community involvement in helping animals find their owners while enabling pets to be held in less stressful environments. 

 

If a member of the community finds a lost pet, is unable to locate the owner, and is unable to provide temporary foster care, please call 888-452-7381 and make an appointment to bring the pet to the closest Animal Services Center. If the pet appears sick or injured, please bring him/her to the closest Animal Services Center immediately. DO NOT LEAVE the dog or cat in an unsafe place. 

 

Click here if your pet is missing or you find a lost pet.

 

Adopt or foster to create life-saving space in our Centers. Every year around the 4th of July, LA Animal Services Centers can fill beyond capacity with terrified, lost pets. By fostering a dog, cat, or kitten, you can help give these shelter guests a break from kennel life while ensuring life-saving space is available for sick, injured, or abandoned animals who make their way into our Centers and have nowhere else to goClick here to find out how you can adopt or foster a new furry friend.

4th of July Horse Safety


Fireworks and the 4th of July celebrations may also frighten and cause injury to horses. It is estimated that around 60 percent of all animals become distressed by the loud noises and streaking lights of fireworks, and horses are no exception being outdoors. 

 

To keep your equine friends safe, here are some key tips:

 

  • Consider moving your horse indoors for the evening if a fireworks display is due to take place in a location adjacent to where your horse grazes.
  • If you will be leaving your horse outside, make sure all fencing and gates are secure.
  • If you decide to stable your horse make sure they have a thick bed with high banks and that there is nothing obvious on which they could injure themselves.
  • Give your horse plenty of hay to keep him/her occupied
  • Play music or leave a radio on to muffle the sounds of fireworks and help to keep your horse calm.
  • Ear covers can help to reduce the noise.
  • After a fireworks event has taken place, check your fields/arena for spent fireworks as these could cause injury if ingested.

Center Operating Hours


Our six LA Animal Services locations are operating without appointments every Saturday and Sunday, from 11am to 5pm. We continue to operate by appointment during the week, Tuesday through Friday, from 8am to 5pm for pet adoptions, fostering, and owner surrender. Our Centers closed on Mondays. Sick or injured animals will be admitted without an appointment. Appointments may be scheduled by going online or by calling 1-888-452-7381. 

To follow the City’s COVID-19 safety protocols, social distancing will be observed and face coverings will be required when in our Centers. 


Per City Ordinance 187219you will need to show proof of your COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of entry into the shelter. You can request a digital COVID-19 Vaccination Record if you were vaccinated in California (unless you were vaccinated at a federal facility) by visiting MyVaccineRecord.cdph.ca.gov. For any questions regarding vaccination records, visit the LA County Vaccine Records website.

In observance of the 4th of July holiday, LA Animal Services Centers will be closed on Monday, July 4.

 

For more information about LA Animal Services, visit laanimalservices.com.

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LA Animal Services promotes and protects the health, safety, and welfare of animals and the people who love them, and is one of the largest municipal shelter systems in the United States. With six Centers across the City, LA Animal Services serves approximately 60,000 animals annually and responds to 20,000 emergency calls involving animals or people in danger. LA Animal Services is part of the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) international coalition, joining 38 municipal shelters and animal welfare organizations across the country to reimagine and transform the way shelters care for animals and their families, by offering access to resources to help keep families together; getting lost pets home quickly without having to enter the shelter system; providing food and medical assistance; and continuing to build on a strong adoption and foster program so pets find their permanent homes or are placed in foster care. Visit our link.tree for helpful links to the services and resources available to you and your companion animals. Connect with LA Animal Services and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
LA Animal Services | 888-452-7381 | LAAnimalServices.com