4th of July Fireworks and Your 4-Legged Friend

Earlier today we learned that the lost black dog Munecka was reunited with its owners. Apparently a reader saw the pooch's picture and made the connection.

More dogs are going to go missing this holiday. Do what you can to keep your pets safe and indoors with plenty of distractions.  Play music and shut the windows when you go. And be sure to lock doors and gates carefully. A frightened White German Shepherd Dog I know unlocked the back door one New Year's Eve in a fireworks-inspired frenzy and ran away for two days.

If you do lose a dog--or find one--here are some tips about what to do next from Christine Peters of the Echo Park Animal Alliance:

If you find a lost dog and it has no ID-walk it around the area you found it to see if anyone recognizes it. Take a photo and put up "Found Dog" signs.

Our local shelter is at 3201 Lacy St., LA 90031. Hours for intake are 24 hrs. daily. Hours to search for your lost pet are: 8am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday.(or 24 hrs on the internet (<http://www.laanimalservices.com/index.htm>).

The pet will be scanned for a micro chip, and the owners will be called if it is registered to a phone number. This is also a good time for pet owners to confirm that the chip info is current and up to date.

Many Pet Owners do not update or register their chips to a reliable phone number. If you are committed to finding this LOST pet a new home if its owner does not come forward, you may go back to the shelter in 5 days and redeem if for an adoption fee that covers spay/neuter, vaccinations, micro-chip, and license.

Otherwise it will be put up for adoption to the general public. 

Help YOUR pet be safe this holiday weekend. Make sure your ID tags are legible, that collars are secure on your pet's neck, that your fencing and gates are escape proof and that nervous pets are indoors with plenty of visual and ambient sounds (for instance music and television).