Pets

Welcome to our pet page. We'll post advice, and occasional articles. Please feel free to contact us with suggestions or submissions. Also, if your pet is found please let us know!

Pets and July 4th

Many of you already know this, but for those of you who don't... More dogs are lost on July 4th than any other day of the year. The fireworks can be terrifying for them, and dogs have been known to jump over 10 foot fences or go right through locked windows or doors in their panic. They wind up lost, in shelters, or hit by cars. One dog was impaled on a fence last year!

Keep dogs and cats indoors. Even if your cats are an indoor/outdoor cats please them securely inside.

If you are taking your dog with you on July 4th, to a picnic or friend's house or whatever, keep that dog secured at all times. DO NOT TAKE YOUR DOGS TO WATCH FIREWORKS. THEY WILL NOT ENJOY IT. Last year 3 dogs I know of got out while visiting in friend's yards. The dogs were in strange neighborhoods and couldn't find their way back since they didn't live there. Keep 2 secure collars and 2 leashes on the dog. A terrified dog can bolt with the strength of Hercules. Make sure the dog's ID is current and intact. If the dog is not microchipped, you still have time to do it. And if God forbid the dog gets out, make sure you have a current picture available so you can do flyers and Internet notices immediately.

If you are going out and leaving the dog home, leave on the radio with classical/soothing music loud enough to help drown out the noise, make sure all windows are closed and pull the blinds to help block out some of the noise. If you can crate the dog, do so. Do not leave the dog with access to the yard! Make sure he/she is in the house and all windows are closed.

L.A. Animal Services Center - East Valley
13131 Sherman Way, North Hollywood. For information or assistance, residents can call L.A. Animal Services at 1-888-4LA-PET1/1-888-452-7381 (TTY Hearing Impaired: 877-875-8205) or visit the website at www.LAAnimalServices.com. L.A. Animal Services rescues, houses and cares for lost and abandoned animals, enforces animal-related laws and acts to prevent cruelty to animals.