Animal safety is important during firework season

Animals are sometimes overlooked during firework seasons and this can create problems for owners.

"The best thing you can do is lock them up," said Havre Police Department Acting Chief Gabe Matosich. "Lock them up in the house or the garage or wherever.

As of July 2, fireworks can be sold within city limits and set off. The allowable times are 8 a.m. to midnight every day until July 4.

"They're going to go off and when they hear the boom, they will act up," Matosich said. "Just be with them and keep them indoors."

Dogs, cats and horses generally do not enjoy fireworks as much as their human counterparts do. Remember this season to take steps to ensure the safety of animals and avoid bad situations like the loss of a pet or injuries.

Dogs and cats

The Humane Society of the United States suggests taking several steps to ensure the safety of pets during the July 4 celebrations.

• Keep your pet safely away from fireworks. Dogs and cats are sensitive to the sound, smells and sights of a July 4 celebration. It is a good idea to secure the pet indoors, and provide background sounds through television or radio to mask the loud noises of fireworks, which can panic the animal. The Humane Society says if one is unable to leave their pet indoors while they attend a firework show, the animal should be leashed and under control at all times.

• Safeguard pets with collars, I.D. tags and microchips. Pets can often panic during the loud noises of a show and may escape where they are to get away from the action. Sometimes, even if they are kept inside, they can force their way outside. With the proper precautions, the pets can be returned to their owners if they are properly identified.

• As a last resort, look into medications or sedatives with the pet's veterinarian to help keep them calm, especially those pets with known severe reactions to fireworks. Veterinarians can also give advice on alternatives methods of soothing animals during loud noises.

Horses

Horses also have difficult times during firework displays, but they can cause more damage than other animals.

HorseChannel.com offers up many pieces of advice for caring for horses during the celebrations:

• It is best to keep horses outdoors, where they won't feel trapped, but if the horse is not used to being outdoors at night, it is important to keep their routine consistent.

• If possible, it is better to keep them in a large turnout area rather than a small paddock. The smaller the area, the greater risk of them running through a fence.

• Check stalls or outdoor areas for hazards, including broken boards or holes that could injure them when they run around.

• Consider leaving a radio on to lessen the shock of firework blasts

• Be mindful of your own safety: do not try to stay with the horse it its stall or next to them in the pasture to comfort them, as they may panic and try to escape, injuring you in the process.

• As a last resort, especially for horses that have shown severe reactions to fireworks in the past, consider talking to a veterinarian about sedatives.