The Humane Society of Boulder Valley has some great tips on keeping pets safe during fireworks season. We hope you and your family have a safe holiday!

Be safe this holiday and follow these tips to help your pet through fireworks season
While firefighters are still working to extinguish the Flagstaff Fire, we remind you that Boulder Police announced yesterday a zero-tolerance for fireworks violations to reduce fire danger and protect our beautiful city and our homes.
The dogs and cats of our community would applaud their decision if they could because many pets find the noise and commotion of fireworks very distressing. Animals have extremely sensitive hearing. To a dog or cat, even the distant sound of fireworks can be alarming.
To ensure your pets’ comfort and safety, the Humane Society recommends the following tips:

• Leave pets at home instead of bringing them to public picnics, fairs and fireworks display.
• When walking dogs, keep them on a leash at all times in the event they panic due to a sudden noise.
• Keep pets away from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area. Turning on a radio or television will help drown out outdoor noises.
• Do not leave an anxious dog alone in a yard or in a house with access to a screened or open window.
• Keep all cats – even indoor/outdoor cats – indoors. A screened porch is a safe compromise for a few days.
• Composure is an over-the-counter tasty, chew with a calming formula that helps to reduce stress and anxiety in dogs and cats. It is available for purchase at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley Veterinary Clinic.

Every fireworks season we find our shelter filled with lost pets. According to 24PetWatch™ (our microchip company) call center statistics, lost pet calls increased 69% during the 1st and 4th of July festivities in 2011. We receive many dogs and cats who aren’t wearing tags, who aren’t microchipped, and even worse, pets who have been hit by cars and seriously injured. Animals with microchips (and updated contact information) and wearing identification can often be immediately returned to their homes.

Reporting a lost or found pet

To report a lost or found pet, call the Humane Society of Boulder Valley at 303-442-4030 or click here to file a lost report online. If we are closed, call the Boulder Police Department at 303-441-3333 or your local animal control. Pets who have been reported found or received at the Humane Society are listed on our website. Our website lists all of the animals brought to us as stray, as well as animals who are reported “found” but have not been turned in to the shelter.

The Humane Society of Boulder Valley will be closed on Wednesday, July 4th. We will reopen Thursday morning at 11:00 am.