‘Not all lost pets make it home’: Keep furry family members safe this Fourth of July

Rory Silva-Sampaio grew up on the Big Island with plenty of pets and animals.

Dune, Butch, Millie, Frasier, Kolohe, Missy, Shorty, Lucy, Bucky and Valentino, or Tino for short. Those were just the dogs his family owned at different times from his early childhood until 2015, when he moved off his mom’s Glenwood property in Puna into Hilo.

There was also Mamma Kitty, Herby, Ringo, Max, Kitty, Teddy Bear, Grizzly Bear, Ghost and Wink, the feline family members through the years.

Don’t forget the sheep.

There was always at least one or two animals around. Even during the Fourth of July, one of the most bombastic nights of the year with its bright flashes and colorful fireworks displays accompanied by thunderous booms and deafening bangs reporting through the darkness, Silva-Sampaio and his family didn’t have to worry about them running away and getting lost, or worse.

At least for the most part.

That’s not the case for many others during the annual Independence Day festivities.

The holiday is described by animal shelters across social media as the No. 1 day for missing and lost dogs and July 5 is the third highest intake day of the year for shelters because of terrified pets that ran away from home the night before being found lost and confused.

“The most heartbreaking part is that not all lost pets make it home,” said Lauren Nickerson, CEO of the Hawai‘i Island Humane Society. “Fleeing, frightened pets are at risk of danger such as being hit by a car. It’s a busy day for animal shelters and veterinarians. We hope that our community will take responsibility by keeping their pets safe this holiday.”

The organization reminds the public that motivated dogs, if they are frightened enough, can and will escape if they are not kept safe.

Jack Johnson, a spokesman with public relations firm Legacy Communications on behalf of online dog lover platform Puppies.com, said more than 60% of dogs experience heightened anxiety during fireworks displays. That often leads to frantic behaviors and stress-induced health issues.

Whistle, a division of Mars Petcare that produces and markets wearable monitoring devices for pets developed and designed by researchers, veterinarians and pet experts, reports that more dogs throughout the nation go missing on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year.

Only 14% of those lost pets are returned to their owners.

“Fireworks are already popping off in neighborhoods across the island,” wrote the Hawai‘i Island Humane Society in a Facebook post Wednesday. “We all know that fireworks can be very scary for pets — and yet, every year, pets go missing from fear.”

It’s the explosive “bang” that scares your canine friends. It is much louder than noises a dog normally hears and they might think it is a threat, making them feel anxious. The bright flashes also can make them become stressed.

If you notice your dog panting, trembling, drooling, acting restless or excessively licking themselves, these are all signs of anxiety.

It wasn’t so much animals running away and getting lost never to return Silva-Sampaio had to worry about when he lived at home, it was that anxiety some of them experienced when fireworks festivities flashed and banged.

“When I was real young, our yellow lab Butch would find the darkest corner of the house and huddle up and hide,” he said. “For him, it was the bathroom, behind the toilet.”

Butch was one of his favorite dogs when he was growing up, but he wasn’t a very lucky pup. He was struck by lightning twice and was scared of anything that made a loud booming sound, including, not surprisingly, thunder. So fireworks made him run frantically.

“I didn’t want to move him when I saw him like that,” Silva-Sampaio said about finding his furry friend in the bathroom. “I was like, ‘It’s OK, buddy.’ I felt bad for him.”

The next dog they got, a chocolate lab named Frasier, followed suit, wanting to go wherever Butch went.

Several years later, after returning from a 5-year stint on the mainland and not having dogs for a while, the family welcomed Lucy, who also was afraid of not just fireworks but other loud sounds. That dog would run around the property anxiously while his uncle was working on improvements to the family’s home using a jackhammer.

Silva-Sampaio and his older brother would chase after her, trying to comfort her, saying, “It’s not that bad.” The second fireworks started popping off on the Fourth of July, “she’d hide under the house,” he said.

Tino, the last dog Silva-Sampaio had before he moved off his mom’s Glenwood property, was initially skittish about fireworks when he came to their home and would run away, so they would have to make sure he came back.

He eventually mellowed out, following the lead of their other dog Missy, who was partially deaf and came from a previous home with a lot of dogs that had become desensitized to the loud bangs of fireworks and guns.

But Dani Love pointed out in a reply to a 2023 Fourth of July post by the Hawai‘i Island Humane Society that fireworks aren’t just scary for pets.

“Can we just get rid of the air and noise pollution those things create and all the unnecessary trauma it creates for ALL animals that are around and all the humans who are sensitive too,” wrote Love.

Silva-Sampaio would likely agree. His mom’s sheep are a good example.

The ungulates are terrified of fireworks. He’s never had to chase or search wide and far for them after they were scared by Independence Day festivities, but they always go into hiding. Usually under the house.

“Sheep are just scared of everything,” Silva-Sampaio said.

He said the family’s cats really never were afraid of fireworks while he was growing up, but now the 33-year-old lives with two cats named Obito and Sasuke owned by one of his roommates.

He’s become pretty attached to them and knows they’re not fans of fireworks at all. Both are house cats, so they normally find hiding spots when Fourth of July festivities light up the sky and rattle their ears.

Silva-Sampaio knows the routine, but if he doesn’t see either of them for more than a bit after everything is finished, he starts looking, especially if he sees a cat outside that resembles one of them wandering around.

“The [Fourth] of July is a day of celebrations, but if you have pets, bear in mind that they don’t view the experience the same way you do,” said a Puppies.com representative. “Definitely keep them close but be mindful of what is happening around you.”

The Hawai‘i Island Humane Society offers these tips to ensure your pet’s safety during the Independence Day holiday:

Do now

• Make sure your pet is wearing a properly fitted collar with identification and your current contact information. Your pet’s ID is their ticket home.
• Make sure your pet’s microchip, if it has one, is registered and the information is current. Click here to register your pet’s microchip for free.
• Take a clear photo of your pet’s face. You will need it if they become lost.

Before the festivities begin

• Take your dog for a nice, long, leashed walk so they can get in lots of sniffs to tire out their brain and help them relax later.
• Start prepping those food puzzles and toys for later. Pro tip: Fill a kong with dog-safe foods and pop it in the freezer for a longer-lasting activity later.
• Download calming music and white noise on your device to block out sounds later. Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital in Waimea also suggests leaving your TV or radio on so your pets won’t hear the fireworks.
• Set up a safe, comfortable place for your pet to hide inside.

During the fireworks

• Stay home with your pet.
• Do not bring your pet to events with fireworks.
• Comfort your pet if they seek it. Do not ignore or punish your pet.
• Close windows to block out noise and light.
• Keep your pet inside.

Puppies.com adds another thing you can get for your dog is an anxiety blanket.

A weighted blanket can distract your canine friend from the loud noises and flashing lights of fireworks, helping shift their focus from their anxiety’s source.

The Hawai‘i County Animal Control and Protection Agency also says thunder shirts, favorite treats and crating are other ways to help keep your pet calm during fireworks shows.

If you find a stray animal or lose a pet, post it as lost or found at Petco Love, a searchable national database that uses facial recognition technology to make finding lost pets faster and easier.

You can also have a healthy stray animal scanned for a microchip by Animal Control, a veterinarian’s office or an island rescue group, which can then try to find the owner by searching for the microchip online.

Keeping pets safe doesn’t just mean protecting them from fear of fireworks. There are other Independence Day favorites that can be harmful to furry family members, too.

Puppies.com says there’s been a startling increase in pet poisoning cases during the Fourth of July, with 75% of reported incidents being caused by human favorites of hot dogs and chocolate desserts. These can lead to digestive issues and even fatal toxicity for dogs.

Here’s what Fourth of July foods, no matter how much they beg, you should not feed your pooch.

• Hot dogs and burgers: These barbecue staples are often high in fat and can contain harmful ingredients to dogs.
• Chocolate desserts: Highly toxic. Chocolate can cause severe health issues. Older dogs or those with heart conditions are at a higher risk of sudden death from chocolate poisoning.
• Alcohol: Even small amounts of alcohol can be dangerous, leading to intoxication, respiratory distress and even death.
• Grapes and raisins: These fruits can cause kidney failure. Ensure they are kept away from your pet’s reach.
• Onions and garlic: These common ingredients can damage your dog’s red blood cells, leading to anemia.

Also, be aware of party decorations and glowsticks.

Glowsticks contain dibutyl phthalate that can be toxic to dogs if ingested. Party decorations can be choking hazards.

It really all comes down to being mindful and remembering the well-being of our furry friends, their needs and taking simple precautions to make sure they stay safe and comfortable so the entire family can enjoy the festivities.

“Ultimately, we urge our community to keep their pets safe by being proactive and planning ahead,” Nickerson said.