July 5 is the busiest day of the year for Dallas Animal Services.
Every year, the shelter at Interstate 30 and Westmoreland Road is inundated with dozens of animals, believed to be people’s pets that have escaped out of fear during fireworks displays.
“Animals get horribly afraid,” said David Giersch, of Dallas Animal Services. “That’s why they should be kept inside during the fireworks. That way you know that they’re still there come the fifth of July.”
In addition to keeping animals inside, shelter staff is asking pet owners to keep collars with ID tags on their animals and, when possible, have their pets microchipped with identifying information.
Giersch also pointed to new apps like Finding Rover, which uses facial recognition technology to ID your pet, as innovative ways to help your animal be identified if it should run away.
The DAS shelter will be closed Friday, July 3 and will be open for limited hours on Saturday, July 4 – from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Normal hours resume on Sunday, July 5 when the shelter will be open from Noon to 5 p.m.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Kate Young, and her son Ben, 2, were at the shelter Thursday to adopt a new dog.
Young told NBCDFW she is well aware of the concern over fireworks.
“I think getting the awareness out there is the best thing,” Young said. “Letting everybody know that, ‘Hey, it can happen to you. Your dog can run.’ It’s not just someone else’s dog that you find. Your dog could be the one that’s gone, too.”
