How to protect your pets this Fourth of July

The Montgomery County Animal Resource Center is reminding local residents that while the fireworks of Independence Day can be exciting for you, they often can be frightening to pets and animals in the area.

The Animal Resource Center typically sees an increase in lost pets during days around July 4 because of animals running away due to loud noises.

If your pet becomes lost during the next week or you find a missing animal the resource center advises you call them at 937-898-4457 and select option #1. They are offering holiday hours to accommodate the increase in missing pets during this time including an 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. window on July 4 for owners trying to track down their precious pets.

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Additionally the Animal Resource Center offers the following suggestions to help keep you pets safe and calm during the fourth of July celebrations:

- Please resist the urge to take your pets with you to celebrate Independence Day. Public fireworks displays can be frightening to your pets. Let them stay home in a quiet, safe, escape-proof area.

- For pets bothered by loud noises, keep them inside in a quiet room with no windows. Background music playing can help calm them.

- Keep matches & lighter fluid out of pets' reach. Certain matches contain chlorates which can damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing.

- Keep picnic foods away from pets as they can cause intestinal problems.

- Make sure your pets always wear collars with current licenses tags and pet identification. Lost and scared pets can't tell a person where they live unless they have proper ID.

- If your pet is lost over the holiday, it may be at the Animal Resource Center. Visit us in person as soon as possible to find your pet.

The Animal Resource Center also recommends using Finding Rover, an application which offers facial recognition technology to identify lost pets. Finding Rover is a free service for identifying lost and found dogs in real-time with facial recognition technology accessible through the smartphone app and website.

Every dog that enters the ARC system becomes registered on Finding Rover. Users of Finding Rover can search the shelter right from their smartphone or computer in efforts to find their missing dog, a neighbor's missing dog, or search for adoptable dogs.

Finding Rover is currently available on iOS, Android, and online at FindingRover.com for FREE.

For more information, contact the Animal Resource Center at (937) 898-4457 or visit www.mcohio.org/animalshelter

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