SAN DIEGO—San Diego county animal shelters have seen a surge in the number of dogs arriving at the facility after the Fourth of July.
About 45 dogs were brought to three county shelters between July 4 and July 5, according to County Animal Services.
Loud noises from the fireworks can scare dogs in the neighborhoods. Many of the dogs panic and run off from the front or backyards of homes.
The department microchipped dogs for free in the days leading up to the Fourth of July holiday.
Dogs that took off during the fireworks could then be quickly identified and reunited with their owners. More than 1,000 dogs have received the chips.
“If someone is missing their dog, they can check our website or visit our shelters to see if we have their runaway pets,” said County Animal Services Director Daniel DeSousa. “We encourage people to look at surrounding shelters too as dogs can easily run from one shelter’s jurisdiction into another.”
Animal Control Officers worked all night on the Fourth of July to rescue lost dogs. July 5 is typically the busiest day of the year for animal shelters as they cope with the influx of new animals.
Owners can check the County shelter’s lost and found page to see if their dog has turned up at any of their three locations. Photos are posted as soon as the animals are kenneled.
Residents are encouraged to register their lost dog with Finding Rover, a free facial recognition app used by the public and County Animal Services.
A lost dog that doesn’t have identification and isn’t claimed by an owner within three business days will become available for adoption.
The County’s three shelters are open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
For more information on microchipping a pet, or Finding Rover, contact Animal Services at (619) 767-2675.
