Long Island shelters overwhelmed after July 4 as ‘terrified’ pets flee fireworks

Animal shelters across Long Island were dealing with the fallout Monday after a long Fourth of July weekend of fireworks left many pets frightened, disoriented — and missing.

Shelter staff said it’s a sadly predictable pattern: fireworks spook pets into fleeing yards, homes, and even crates — often in the middle of the night. And the result is an uptick in strays and lost animal reports across the region.

Dozens of pets have been reported missing — and likely many more — in wake of the three-day holiday weekend.

“They take off,” Leigh Wixson, supervisor at the Smithtown Animal Shelter, told Greater Long Island. “People are silly and don’t think their animal is going to be bothered, and so they let them in their backyard — and then the pets get scared and take off.

“Pet owners also get careless. They may be having a party or leave the fence gate open,” she added.

Wixson said her small shelter — which holds just 13 dogs and about 20 cats — received four lost dogs over the weekend, with three successfully reunited with their owners.

The smallest was a Shih Tzu. The largest was an 80-pound mixed breed. The one dog still in their care is a pit bull, which Wixson noted with a sigh is “always the one left.”

On the feline front, she said cats are typically harder to retrieve once lost — though her team still received five lost cat calls Monday morning alone.

“That’s about a week’s worth of calls for us, all in one morning,” she said.

It wasn’t just Smithtown. Babylon Animal Shelter reported its facility was nearly full as of Monday morning, after what it called “three days of fireworks.” And Brookhaven Town spokesman Drew Scott told Greater Long Island that 15 animals were brought to the town’s animal shelter over the weekend.

“No joke, our shelter is full. Hardly 2 cages open as we start our day after 3 days of fireworks,” the Babylon shelter said in a Facebook post.

And while many of the pets are eventually reunited, there’s also an uptick in unclaimed strays, Wixson said — dogs and cats that may have escaped homes without identification or microchips, making it difficult to track down their families.

“Someone’s usually desperately looking for their baby when that happens,” she said, “but not always.”

Local residents expressed concern and hope on social media as shelters fill up.

“I’m hoping that many of these angels are reclaimed,” wrote Kevin Lindsay on Facebook. “So many go lost on July 4 due to the fireworks!”

Precautions are key

With another round of fireworks shows lighting up Long Island skies this weekend, dog owners are being urged to take precautions to protect their pets.

Here are some expert-backed tips to help your pup stay safe and stress-free:

🏡 Before the fireworks

• Get plenty of exercise early. A long walk or play session before dark can help burn off energy and reduce anxiety.
• Create a safe indoor space. Set up a cozy, enclosed area where your dog feels secure. Close windows, draw curtains and turn on a TV or white noise machine to soften the sound of fireworks.
• Update ID tags and microchips. Make sure your pet’s tags are current, and check that their microchip is registered with your contact info — just in case they bolt.

🎆 During the show

• Keep them indoors. Even in fenced yards, scared dogs can leap or dig out. Keep them inside and never bring them to a fireworks display.
• Stay calm yourself. Your dog takes cues from you. Speak in a soothing voice and try to behave normally.
• Use calming tools if needed. ThunderShirts, anxiety wraps and vet-approved calming chews can all help during stressful moments.

_{Top photo: Facebook (Babylon Town Animal Shelter in Amityville; taken by Julia C.).}