As you get ready to enjoy this holiday week-end with friends and family, remember that some of your family members might not find it so enjoyable. Your dogs and cats might find it terrifying. 
The sight, sound, and smell of fireworks can set them into a panic. If left outdoors, they can try to run away from it, and subsequently become lost.
When working in animal rescue, I found the week after the 4th of July to be the most heartbreaking, as report after report of lost pets poured in. Sadly, many of those lost pets were never found. When they run from panic, they run too far and can't find their way back. And of course, some get out on highways and get hit.
Remember, pets in a panic will do strange things. One friend of mine lost
her dog after leaving her padlocked inside a 6' tall chain link fence. Apparently, she climbed the fence in her effort to get away. She was never found.
So don’t leave your pets outdoors when you leave this week-end, even if you have a tall fence - and don't take them along where you know there will be fireworks unless you know it won’t bother them. (We have one dog who will sleep through it.)
If you’re leaving them home while you go play, make sure they have a safe place to “hide” if things get scary. Some want to be under a bed or in the back corner of a closet. Some think the bathroom is a safe spot.
If you don’t want to leave your dogs in the house when you're not there, put them in the garage. But before you leave, create a “Hidey hole” with a large box they can crawl into or stack boxes around a corner to create a space just big enough to hide in. Include their favorite blanket and/or something of yours to give them the comfort of your scent.
If you know your pets will be afraid, try calming them with Bach Flower Essences. An upscale pet supply store should carry it.
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