EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso Animal Services is urging pet owners to take precautions ahead of this year’s Fourth of July celebrations.
With the holiday landing on a Thursday this year, the agency anticipates extended festivities throughout the week, meaning there are more opportunities for pets to run away due to the loud noises from fireworks.
EPAS said just the past weekend they added nearly 150 animals to their shelter, not including surrenders. The high number concerns the agency which is already well over capacity.
“We have over 140% capacity levels for dogs and 180% capacity level for cats. So, we have a lot, a lot of animals that really, really need the support,” said Julieanne Newbold, public affairs coordinator at EPAS.
Newbold said pet parents should be proactive this week and make sure their pets are microchipped and all information on identification tags are updated.
In addition to having up-to-date IDs for your pets, Newbold said owners should also keep animals inside and away from triggering sounds.
“For us, it’s just trying to make sure that we again let our community know what they can do to protect their pets and not take them to watch the fireworks or just leaving them in their backyard the entire time and never checking on them. Securing your gates or having just that safe space inside of your home makes a world of a difference in keeping pets where they belong and that’s at home,” said Newbold.
For community members who do not own pets, Newbold said they can still help by choosing to foster a found animal or one already at the shelter.
Newbold said: “We urgently, urgently need fosterers and adopters to help assist us to make more room in the shelter for the pets that we already know are probably going to come into the shelter this week. So, if you’re able to foster, it’s completely free. All you need is a valid I.D., be above the age of 18 and live with it within El Paso County. We provide all food and medical care and any supplies that you would need during the foster period if you can adopt as well and spread the word to your friends and family too, to always make adoption your only option when adding a furry friend to your family.”
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