Fireworks send more pets running than almost anything else all year. Dallas Animal Services wants to help you get ahead of it with a free microchip event before the holiday weekend
Here’s a heads-up worth acting on, neighbor. The Fourth of July is one of the scariest nights of the year for our four-legged family members — and one of the leading reasons pets go missing. Those booming fireworks may thrill the kids, but to a startled dog or cat, they’re terrifying, and a panicked pet will bolt right out of a yard, a door, or a leash before you can blink.
The good news? Dallas Animal Services is making it easy to protect your pet ahead of the holiday. On Saturday, June 28, DAS is hosting a free microchipping event at its shelter on North Westmoreland Road — and a quick visit now could save you a heartbreak later.
“Fireworks may be fun for people, but they can be terrifying for pets,” said Paul Ramon, director of Dallas Animal Services. “A microchip provides a permanent form of identification that can make all the difference when it comes to reuniting lost pets with their families.”
That difference is real. Shelters across the country fill up with strays every year after the Fourth, and last year DAS alone took in 100 stray pets over the July 4 weekend. A collar and tags can fall off — but a microchip is permanent, and it’s often the fastest way to get a scared, lost pet back home where it belongs.
So while you’re here, a few simple things go a long way toward a calm holiday. Make sure your pet wears a collar with current ID tags, and double-check that your microchip registration info is actually up to date — a chip only works if the contact details are current. When the fireworks start, keep pets indoors and set up a quiet, secure spot where they can ride out the noise feeling safe. Tire them out with a good walk earlier in the day to take the edge off their anxiety, and leave them comfortable at home rather than bringing them along to loud events. Little steps, big peace of mind.
Don’t wait until the weekend’s chaos hits. Swing by, get your pet chipped for free, and head into the Fourth knowing that if the worst happens, you’ve got the best shot at a happy reunion.
If You Go
Dallas Animal Services hosts its free microchipping event on Saturday, June 28, from noon to 4 p.m. at the shelter, 1818 N. Westmoreland Road, Dallas. No cost to participate. For more on microchipping, lost pets, adoptions, fostering, or upcoming events, visit bedallas90.org or follow Dallas Animal Services on social media.
