The Fourth of July can be a frightening time for animals.
Loud firecrackers and fireworks often send pets scurrying out of the house or yard in search of security or shelter, and Long Beach Animal Care Services officials remind animal owners to follow a few suggestions to avoid heartache and anxiety:
-- Keep pets indoors, if possible, or confined to a secure area. DO NOT tether an animal, officials warn, because it can lead to more harm or an accidental death.
-- Double check yard gates to make sure that pets cannot escape.
-- Make certain pets are wearing identification,tags, including the name and current telephone number of owner.
-- Anyone who loses a pet in Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Signal Hill or Cerritos should visit www.petharbor.com or the city's pet lost and found online at www.longbeach.gov/acs. If you do not find your pet online, visit the local shelter on Wednesday, July 7, between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., at 7700 E. Spring St.
The shelter will be closed July 4-6, but Animal Control officers will be responding 24-hours a day to emergency calls, such as stray and injured animals, and animals that have bitten or scratched others.
Animal Care staff will contact owners of lost pets that have identification tags or microchips. Animals with identification will be held at the Village for 14 days, pending being claimed by their owner. Animals without identification will be held for a minimum of six days before being evaluated for adoption.
The shelter is open to the public Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shelter is closed on Monday, Tuesday and all holidays. For Animal Care Services or more details, call 570-PETS (7387). After-hours emergency phone calls are automatically transferred to the Fire Department for dispatch service.
For more details, contact the Animal Care Services Bureau at 562.570.7387 or visit www.longbeach.gov/acs.
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