More Pets Go Missing July 4 & 5 Than Any Other Day. Be Prepared!

The epitome of summer comes just after the summer solstice, on July 4. This holiday weekend is often full of patriotism, barbecues, pool parties, and fireworks. Although the celebrations are packed with entertainment, they can be an anxious weekend for your pet. More pets go missing during the July 4th weekend than at any other time of the year.

However, with the proper preparation and knowledge, you can keep your dog safe. AKC Reunite, an organization that has more than five million pet owners registered and has helped reunite over 500,000 pets with their owners, will be available night and day to help you find your pet if he does go missing. But the best thing you can do is prepare in advance. Learn why pets go missing this specific weekend, how to prepare ahead of time, and what to do if your pet gets lost.

Why do pets go missing during the July 4th Weekend

It isn’t just the patriotic holiday — the entire season of summer is the most common time for dogs to go missing. “There are many factors that influence this,” says Vice President of Sales and Marketing at AKC Reunite, Dallas Harsa. “Barbecues, many people coming in and out of the house, and even the noise of the fireworks, which may cause pets to panic and they will try to flee somewhere. They don’t know where the noise is coming from, and they try to escape because they don’t understand.”

AKC Reunite offers helpful tips, including ways to keep your companion safe. Even isolating your pet in a room centralized in your home with soothing music (similar to an escape area) can calm their nerves. “Keep toys in your pet’s safe area to make the area more fun and to provide distractions from loud noises and flashes,” AKC Reunite recommends.

Preparing Ahead of Time

The most important thing that pet owners can do is make sure they (and their pets) are prepared. AKC Reunite allows owners to buy or register their pet’s microchip online. Microchipping will enable owners to reunite with their pet if they were to go missing. When you enroll online, you can enter emergency contacts and personal information; however, it’s essential to update this information frequently. “If you don’t know your pet’s microchip information, you can go to a pet microchip lookup where you can enter the information, and it will let you know which recovery service to contact, and it can give you an idea of who likely sold the microchip,” Harsa says.

While many think that the microchip is a GPS, “It’s not a locator device, it’s a permanent identification for your pet,” Harsay says. “It’s essential that the information is up-to-date because it makes it easier and faster to reunite the pet.” In addition to making sure microchip information is updated, owners can also exercise their pet on the days of big events to exhaust pent-up energy before the celebration.

What to Do if Your Pet Gets Lost

Being prepared is extremely helpful, but what happens if your pet goes missing? “The very first thing owners need to do is get a search party out and have their cellphone with them,” Harsa says. “You should scatter because you don’t know where the pet went.” She also explains that it’s essential to always have a picture of your pet on hand. If your pet is enrolled in a microchip program, owners can contact their designated recovery service. The AKC Reunite program has live agents available 24/7 and expects its busiest days to be July 5th and 8th.

When a pet is found, AKC Reunite will contact you via phone call, text message, and email. They will contact all of the emergency contacts in your profile. Again, this is a significant reason to ensure that all the information in your profile is up to date. If any points of communication are outdated, they will also send a letter. “Make sure that your pet is enrolled, don’t give up hope, contact local animal control, and ask if they would pick up a pet where they would go. Follow up daily, and be patient because you’ll most likely work with volunteers where you will have to repeat information,” Harsa adds. Most shelters are closed on holiday weekends, so it’s essential to note that AKC Reunite has live agents available to assist with searching for, reporting a lost pet, or reporting a found pet.

Enjoy your holiday celebration with family and friends — just be sure to follow precautions so that your companion can enjoy the holiday as well.