Every year around the 4th of July, our hearts sink. We know what’s coming.
Fireworks might be fun for people, but they’re terrifying for animals. The loud bangs and bright flashes send so many animals running in fear. They break through fences, bolt out of doors, and slip out of collars. And then, in the days that follow, our phones ring non-stop.
People are finding dogs in their yards, cats under porches, and they bring them to us. And while we want to help every one of them, we’re already full. So are the other shelters. There just isn’t enough space for them all. And the truth is, some of them won’t make it back home. Some won’t make it out of the shelter at all.
That’s why we’re asking you, if you find a lost animal this week, please have patience. Don’t rush to hand them off.
So many animals end up in crowded shelters just because someone didn’t want the responsibility of holding onto them for a day or two. But imagine how that animal feels – scared, confused, and now in a place that’s loud, full, and unfamiliar. They don’t know why they’re there. All they want is to go home.
You might be the only chance they have to get there.
If you can, keep them safe for a little while. Walk them around the neighborhood. Ask your neighbors. Post on local lost and found pages. Check for a microchip at a vet’s office or PetSmart. Put up flyers. Most lost animals live very close to where they were found. Their family might be just a few blocks away, searching and heartbroken.
We know it’s a lot to ask. But it matters. It saves lives.
So please, don’t think of them as a problem to hand off. Think of them as someone’s best friend who just needs help getting home. Be the person who gives them that chance.
This 4th of July, let’s do better for them. Hold on. Slow down. Help them find their way back.
