Hitchcock Road Animal Services Reminds Pets Owners Early about Pending Firework Activity as Shelters are Already Experiencing High Capacity Going into the Holiday

Salinas, CA – June 20, 2025 – Hitchcock Road Animal Services (HRAS) is sending a reminder to ALL pet owners to be aware of upcoming fireworks and the effect it will have on their pets. Locally, fireworks tend to start a few weeks ahead of the holiday and continue a few weeks after. Recent increases in animal intakes have local shelters already full of pets ahead of a holiday that traditional increases animal intakes an additional 20-30%.

Many of the animals that will end up in the shelter after July 4th go unclaimed by their owner. It’s unfortunate as many of these pets could have remained safely in their home had their pet owners planned ahead and taken some basic precautions. It is absolutely the responsibility of every pet owner to ensure the safety of their pets at all times.

To protect your pet on the Fourth of July and prevent it from ending up in a shelter, Hitchcock Road Animal Services recommends that you take these precautions:

    Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags and are microchipped so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. If you find a lost pet in your neighborhood, please make a reasonable effort to find the owner immediately by canvassing the neighborhood, checking social media, calling any phone numbers on tags before bringing to the shelter. Pets have a better chance of finding their way home if efforts to get them home are made by the finder in the community before coming to the shelter. The shelter is appropriate if the owner can’t be located.

HRAS offers a free texting program for quick links and tips for lost and found pets, including a lost/found pet reporting form, social media links and links to the animals in local shelters. Simply text the single keyword “831LOST” or “831FOUND” to 1-833-664-0513. 

    Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.

    Never leave your pet in the car. Besides being illegal in California to leave an animal unattended in a vehicle, cars heat up very fast and can be deadly. With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects, even death, in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air but do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.

    Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you've removed any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him company while you’re attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.

    Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn't leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.

    If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety they will experience during fireworks displays.

    If you plan to go away for the holiday weekend, make plans to have someone watch your pets so that they remain safe while you are away. Provide them a letter stating that they are pet sitting for you with pictures and vaccine information and have permission to reclaim your pet for them in your absence. Also, make sure that person knows where to look if the pet becomes lost and to alert you if the pet is missing.

Hitchcock Road Animal Services is located at 160 Hitchcock Road in Salinas and takes in lost and stray pets from the City of Salinas, unincorporated Monterey County as well as animals from Marina, Del Rey Oaks, Carmel, Greenfield and CSUMB. Shelter hours to look for lost pets are Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-5pm. For more information, please call them at 831-769-8850 or visit: www.hitchcockroadanimals.org.