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As Rome residents begin anticipating fireworks on the 4th of July, officials are advising that we consider the comfort and safety of our four-legged friends.

While the 4th of July holiday is a fun one for many, it can be a risky time for pets. Each year, pets go missing due to this holidayÐÔÊӽ紫ý festivities.

The loud noises these events create is the main stressor for animals during this weekend, said Public Animal Welfare Services Director Katy Walters.

“Dogs especially are absolutely terrified of the noise that the fireworks make when they explode,� Walters said.

It is important to keep your furry friends in the forefront of your mind during events this weekend, even if your household isn’t shooting off consumer fireworks.

Taking simple precautions can go a long way. Keeping your pets safely confined inside is the best way to ensure they do not escape during Independence Day events.

“With fireworks, you just want to make sure that your dog is properly contained,� she said. “I would highly recommend bringing them inside because when they’re outside and the fireworks start to go off, they can get frightened and run out of your yard. If they’re inside, they’re not going to be running loose or getting away from your property.�

Another precaution is to microchip your animals. In case any fur babies make a break for it, microchips can help their chances of being returned to their owner. PAWS offers microchipping for $15 at their office, no appointment necessary, during the hours they are open to the public. Microchipping services are also available at many vet offices around the county, Walters said.

“We very much recommend making sure that all the dogs are microchipped,� she said. “Cats, too, for that matter, because if they do happen to get scared and run away, then we can get them back to their owner with the use of that microchip.�

In the event your pet does escape, checking animal control and local shelters is one of the many ways to attempt locating your animal.

Before the festivities begin, Walters encourages everyone to have a recent photo of your animal. If your pet escapes, residents can post the picture on Paw Boost at , a website with a database of lost and found pets. Furthermore, social media can be a powerful tool in reuniting animals with owners. The Facebook page “Strays of Floyd County Animal Control� can be a helpful resource in finding animals.

“Definitely keep up with that because we post every stray dog that we pick up,� she said.

To keep pets comfortable, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends keeping pets in an interior, windowless room with soft music playing, giving them an enrichment activity, or even putting them in a snug t-shirt or anxiety vest.

As for cats, they usually hide if the noise scares them, but keeping them inside, if possible, can go a long way. Keeping pets away from unsafe foods and fireworks and cleaning up the dangerous firework materials are also good practices for pet safety.