Keep pets safe and sane over the Fourth of July holiday

SEATTLE — With Fourth of July celebrations just a few days away, the Seattle Animal Shelter urges pet owners to take extra precautions to protect their pets from fireworks. The shelter also reminds owners to make sure their pets are licensed to give them the added protection that comes with a license.

The shelter will be closed on July 4. If you need assistance, please contact the Seattle Police Department at 911.

“The Fourth of July is one of our busiest days of the year,” says Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan. “Many animals are frightened by fireworks and some pet owners will see a side of their animal that they’ve never seen before. ‘Fido’ or ‘Lady’ can go from a beloved family pet to a ‘Tasmanian Devil Dog’ in a matter of minutes.”

Jordan offers the following tips to protect pets on the Fourth of July:

• Keep pet indoors or otherwise secured when fireworks are being shot off.
• Consult your veterinarian beforehand if you think your pet may benefit from being tranquilized.
• Take your pet outside to relieve itself before it gets dark.
• If you take your pet to a park, do not leave it locked in a car.
• Do not take your pet to public fireworks displays.
• Make sure your pet is wearing proper identification, such as a current pet license.

Without exception, and as part of the shelter’s “zero tolerance policy” regarding unlicensed pets, officers will issue $125 failure to license citations to owners of unlicensed pets.

The costs for pet licenses are:

Dog: one-year $40 ($20 if spayed or neutered); or two-years $62 ($30 if spayed or neutered).

Cat: one-year $25 ($15 if spayed or neutered); or two-years $40 ($22 if spayed or neutered).

If a pet wearing its license shows up at the shelter, the owner is notified. If an officer finds a licensed pet in the field, it will be returned to its owner instead of being taken to the shelter. Experience shows that often an injured animal wearing a license is more likely to receive veterinary care if the owner is not around. Revenue from pet license fees helps support efforts such as protecting public safety, preventing animal cruelty, solving nuisance animal problems and providing low-cost spay and neuter services.

The shelter will resume regular hours on July 5; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for licensing, and noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions. The shelter is located at 2061 - 15^th Ave. W., approximately one mile south of the Ballard Bridge.