Home Animal Stories Keusch: Keeping Pets Safe on 4th Of July, What If My Pet Goes Missing?

Keusch: Keeping Pets Safe on 4th Of July, What If My Pet Goes Missing?

by ECT

Did You Know That More Pets Go Missing on the 4th of July Than Any Other Day of the Year?

In the city of Antioch alone their intake rate went up a staggering 700% on the 4th and 5th of July last year.

On an average they see 3 stray animals come through the door a day but last year that number increased to 24 for both the 4th and 5th of July and then slowly tapered back down.

What can you do to help prevent your animal form becoming a statistic this year?

Fido alert suggest that you make sure you animal is wearing all tags and licensing, make sure you animals microchip information is current and up to date and if you pet does not have a microchip then there Is no better time to do than then now.

Its best to bring all animals inside during fire work displays (inside a create inside the home would be best) but remember just because its illegal to let off fireworks at home people will still break the law and let them off anyway. So prepare to bring your dogs in for the next week. If you don’t like the idea of a dog in the house you can always create in the garage but the house would be more comfortable but this option is far better than loose in the back yard.

If you have the kind of dog that is very uneasy with fireworks you can call your vet and ask for a sedative for you animal to keep them calm. Please use as prescribed by your vet and please monitor your pet while on sedatives.

What to do when you have lost or found a pet this weekend

Please post lost and found animals on Fido alert with picture and contact information ie phone number or email, Facebook page if not considered contact information.

FIDO ALERT is working directly with both shelter this weekend https://www.facebook.com/FidoAlertECCC

If you have found an animal

Please have the animal scanned for a microchip at a local vet for free. There are after hour vets listed below that can scan when other vets are closed. If the animal does have a chip please contact owner and arrange for pick up.

If it doesn’t have a microchip both Antioch Animal Services and Contra Costa Animals Services will be open on Tuesday at 10am to take the stray. If you do decide to hold the animal yourself past Tuesday regardless if it has a chip or not please remember to file found a report with the shelter.

A found report is a critical step that must be taken for any animal to have any hope of being reunited with its family, this is not just a step that should be taken it is the law.

Animals are considered property and anyone who keeps or re-homes a found animal without taking the proper steps will be breaking the law.

If you lost an animal

We suggest one Person stays at home in case the animal returns and one walk the streets with a photograph asking neighbors and even calling your pets name as you walk. Antioch animals Services will be scanning all animal that are brought to their facility and calling owners to arrange for pick up.

If you receive no call we suggest coming to the shelter in person on Tuesday verses just calling, your description of your animals can be different than what others may describe. On Tuesday you can do a walk through of the facility and file and lost report.

Please let the front office know you need a walk through because not all kennels are accessible to the public and they will arrange for you to view kennels that are not in public view.

In the meantime pound the streets make flyers and post to Fido alert and Craigslist. Please include photos and name that way if someone does see your animal on the street they may be more willing to come if someone calls them by name.  

Antioch Animal Services open Tuesday 10am
Please remembers Antioch Animal Services only takes in Animals from its own city. 300 L St Antioch ca 94509 Antioch, CA
(925) 779-6989
Contra Costa Animal Services open Tuesday 10am
Contra Costa Animal services takes animals found within the county with the exception on Antioch

4800 Imhoff Place
Martinez, CA 94553

For after hour microchip scanning and injured animal

East Bay Veterinary Emergency
1312 Sunset Dr, Antioch, CA 94509 (925) 754-5001 opens 24 hours a day on weekends and 6PM -8AM during the week (will scan for microchip but will only keep injured animal found within Antioch only)

SAGE
1410 Monument Blvd. Suite 100 Concord, CA 94520
(925) 627-7243 open 24 hours a day 7 days a week (will scan for microchip but will only keep injured non-Antioch strays only)

Written by Kristy Keusch

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