Fourth of July fireworks can cause animals to get anxious.
That’s a worry that Eric Anderson, manager of the San Luis Obispo County Animal Services, always has this time of year.
The sounds of fireworks, often loud or high-pitched, can scare pets. In some cases, pets even run away from home.
Anderson says the Animal Services Shelter, the county shelter located at 885 Oklahoma Ave., is always concerned about a large uptick in animals getting dropped off at the shelter.
This year, he hasn’t seen the trend continue.
“It looks like this year is a little bit more mild as far as that goes,” Anderson says, “compared to past years.”
The manager sees it as a move in the right direction. On the heels of COVID-19, events are smaller than they have been in the past. Beyond that, Anderson notes a rise he has seen in owner responsibility.
“Right now, since the Fourth, we’ve had two dogs brought in, and a few stray cats,” he says. “That’s really on par with what we would have during a normal week.”
If an animal has gone missing, Anderson advises owners to patrol the neighborhood on foot. After that, owners can file a lost report with animal services through their website.
The lost animal phone line is updated at 6 p.m. Anyone who calls (805) 781-4407 will hear a description of lost pets the shelter has taken in.
Pet owners can also visit the shelter in person. It is open every day at 11 a.m.
At Santa Barbara County's animal shelters, 81 animals have been taken in over the last five days. Twenty-one of those pets have already gone home.
Until July 10, the shelters have waived the fees for recovering a lost pest.
"If you've lost your pet and you see it on the website, come on down. Our doors are open now, so just walk on in, no redemption fees. We're going to send you home with a microchip which is free. If you need a license, we'll get you a license and we're gonna get you out the door," said Jessica Wiebe, Santa Barbara County Animal Services Public Information Assistant.
