WR Animal Control Has Warning for Pet Owners This July 4th Wknd

West Richland Police Department via Facebook

West Richland Animal Control is reminding pet owners to be responsible and this 4th of July. Not all pets are fans of loud fireworks. To some, the loudness causes unbelievable stress for our fur-babies.

Make Sure Your Pet Has Identification on Their Collar

My dog has run away maybe twice since I rescued him. Both times, he ran after a squirrel. And, both times, he returned in a matter of minutes. But during those minutes my heart was very sad. I prayed that he wouldn't be struck by a vehicle. I canvassed the neighborhood, staying relatively close to home base, should he return. I was grateful that he did return both times.

DJ is Micro-chipped, and He Wears a Collar With Identification

You never know how a pet will respond to fireworks. I had a dog, Davey, who would absolutely chase the sparks of fireworks. He was fearless, and never knew the danger. He was also clueless when it came to auto traffic. I thank my lucky stars he never got off-leash.

Be sure that your pet has proper ID and micro-chip with up-to-date information. Keeping our pets safe this 4th of July is our #1 priority.

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To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

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