The Fourth of July is a time for family gatherings, backyard cookouts, and fireworks displays, but for many pets, the holiday can be one of the most stressful days of the year.

Loud noises, unfamiliar guests, and outdoor celebrations can cause pets to become frightened, disoriented, and even run away. In fact, more pets go missing on July Fourth than on any other day of the year. A little preparation can help keep your furry family members safe and comfortable throughout the holiday.

Firework Safety for Pets

Fireworks may be fun for people, but they can be overwhelming for pets. The loud booms, flashes of light, and unusual smells can trigger fear and anxiety.

To help your pet stay calm:

• Never use fireworks around pets.
• Keep pets indoors when fireworks are being set off.
• Avoid bringing pets to parties or gatherings where fireworks may be used.
• Create a quiet, comfortable space inside your home where your pet can relax.
• Turn on calming music, a television, or a fan to help muffle outside noise.
• Provide indoor playtime, treats, or enrichment activities to help distract nervous pets.

Outdoor Celebration Tips

If you’re spending time outdoors, be mindful of potential hazards for pets.

• Never apply sunscreen or insect repellent to your pet unless the product is specifically labeled for animal use.
• Keep sparklers, matches, lighter fluid, and other flammable items out of your pet’s reach.
• Prevent access to citronella candles, insect coils, tiki torch fuel, and similar products, which can be harmful if ingested.

Don’t Let Your Pet Go Missing—Microchip Them!

A microchip is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help reunite lost pets with their families.

Unlike collars and ID tags, a microchip can’t fall off or become unreadable. About the size of a grain of rice, the chip is implanted just beneath your pet’s skin during a quick and virtually painless procedure. Each chip contains a unique identification number linked to your contact information in a secure database.

If your pet becomes lost, animal shelters, veterinarians, and animal control officers can scan the microchip and contact you directly.

Young-Williams Animal Center offers microchipping for just $15 per pet. To schedule an appointment, call 865.433.9922.

What to Do If You’ve Lost a Pet

Because so many pets go missing during Fourth of July celebrations, Young-Williams Animal Center often sees an increase in lost pets following the holiday.

If your pet goes missing:

1. Visit our Lost & Found page for step-by-step guidance.
2. Check with Young-Williams Animal Center, the official shelter for Knoxville and Knox County, as many stray pets are brought to our shelter.
3. Post your pet on social media and local lost-and-found groups.
4. Search and create alerts through Petco Love Lost, a free national lost pet database.
5. Continue checking shelter listings and online resources regularly.

Helpful local resources include the Young-Williams Animal Center Lost & Found Facebook group and the Knoxville Lost & Found Pets Facebook group.

What to Do If You’ve Found a Pet

If you’ve found a stray pet, start by checking your neighborhood. Most lost pets are found close to home, and a quick conversation with neighbors may help reunite a pet with its family. Before bringing the pet to a shelter, have it scanned for a microchip. Young-Williams has partnered with the Knoxville Fire Department to install public microchip scanners at Fire Stations 3 and 17, and a scanner is also available for public use at Young-Williams Animal Center, located at 3201 Division Street. You can also visit a local veterinarian or animal shelter to have the pet scanned.

Whenever possible, keep the pet in the area where it was found while searching for its owner. Pets that remain in their neighborhood are much more likely to find their way home, while pets brought to a shelter have only about a 15% chance of being reunited with their families. Through Young-Williams Animal Center’s Friendly Finders program, community members can help care for found pets temporarily while efforts are made to locate their families. Young-Williams can also provide supplies and support to help you safely house and care for a found pet during the reunification process.

You can also:

• Post photos and information in local lost-and-found pet groups.
• Search and create alerts through Petco Love Lost, a free national lost pet database.
• Register the pet with the Friendly Finders program to connect with Young-Williams staff and access reunification resources.
• Bring the pet to Young-Williams Animal Center if you are unable to safely care for the animal or if no owner can be located.
• Contact Young-Williams Animal Services if you need assistance safely containing or transporting the animal.

Published June 2026