Fireworks and pets: how to keep yours safe, calm, and home this Fourth of July

Animal shelters across the country see their intake spike as much as 30% in the first days of July. A dog that has never once tried to escape a yard can clear a fence when a firework goes off two streets away. In this episode of Midwest Pet Life, Candace D'Agnolo of Dante & Dory's Pet Emporium covers what to do before the holiday, on the night itself, and if the worst happens and a pet gets loose. Why fireworks trigger a true panic response in dogs and cats — not bad behavior The three identification steps to take this week before July 4th How to audit your fence line and set up a safe room for the evening Calming tools that don't require a prescription — and when to call your vet What to do in the first hours if a pet gets loose Why the week before the holiday matters more than the night itself A note for cat owners — and large animal owners, too   Dante & Dory's Pet Emporium also has free Find My Pet QR tags available in store while supplies last — stop in before the holiday. Have a pet question you'd like Candace to tackle on a future episode? Submit it to [email protected] or DM Midwest Pet Life on Facebook. For the full checklist, read our story: July 4th is the worst week of the year for lost pets — here's how to keep yours safe. New episodes post weekly on WGIL.com and are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Midwest Pet Life is brought to you by Dante & Dory's Pet Emporium, Galesburg's locally owned pet store.