Tips & Tools To Help Ease 4th Of July Pet Anxiety In El Paso

El Paso Animal Services will be helping to reconnect lost pets, while Pet’s Barn offers free “Chill Chews” for fireworks-stressed pets this weekend.

Every year, the fourth of July holiday becomes very stressful for pets as fireworks pop up all across the city.

According to El Paso Animal Services, the holiday weekend results in hundreds of pets fleeing from their home. To get more pets reconnected with their families, Animal Services, volunteers, and members of the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee will take to the streets to canvas El Paso neighborhoods to share tips with the community on how to reconnect lost pets and how to keep them safe.

Tips to help lost pets get back home:

Get the pet scanned for a microchip. You can get pets scanned for free at any El Paso fire station or veterinary office.
Report found pets via ElPasoAnimalServices.org/foundpetresources or by calling 311.
Post photos of the pet on social media sites such as Nextdoor, Petco Love Lost, Pawboost, and Craigslist.
If the pet requires urgent assistance or is in danger, injured, sick or aggressive, call 311.
If you lost your pet, visit our website to file a Lost Pet Report and view found pets.

Listen to Monika middays all week on 93.1 KISS-FM and download our free 93.1 KISS-FM App.

Tips to help keep your pet safe and calm:

Resist the urge to take your pets to Fourth of July firework displays/events.
Keep pets indoors and close the curtains.
Take pets outside on a leash to “do their business” before fireworks go off in the evening.
Turn on the radio or television to help mask outdoor noises.
Keep your pet’s microchip up-to-date with the correct contact information.
If not micro-chipped, get your pet micro-chipped.
Keep a well-fitting (not tight) collar and identification tag on your pet.
If your pet is crate-trained, place them in their crate.

To also help ease pet-related stress and anxiety over the 4^th of July, Pet’s Barn has developed “Chill Chews,” a soft wafer with active ingredients including chamomile and tryptophan, ingredients naturally found in calming teas and turkey, respectively.

The local pet store will be offering the chews free of charge while supplies last at any Pet’s Barn location (in-store only).