MILWAUKEE — Animal shelters saw surges of intakes over the Fourth of July weekend.
Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC) said July 5 is traditionally one of its busiest days of the year.
Kate Hartlund, who works at MADACC, said from July 1 through 4, over 100 animals arrived at the MADACC center on Milwaukee’s South Side.
Many animals may get spooked and run away due to loud noises, such as fireworks, over the holiday weekend.
“There were fireworks going on until like 1 a.m. and people just don’t think,” Hartlund said. "[People think,] ‘Oh my dog’s not going to go anywhere…’ Well you never know what’s going to happen in an unknown situation, so you always just want to take extra precaution.”
Hartlund recommended pet owners keep their animals inside during the Fourth of July — or other times when fireworks are going off such as holidays and festivals — to prevent them from inadvertently escaping.
Many pet owners, such as Therese Welbes, said they are glad the weekend is over.
She walked her 10-year-old dog Buster at the Currie Park Dog Park in Wauwatosa, Wis., on Wednesday. She said Buster is afraid of all the firework-induced noise. But she was one of the lucky ones: Buster was safe at home over the holiday.
“He’s in my bedroom because I darkened my windows, so that he can’t see them or hear them as much,” said Welbes. “It’s kind of a retreat for him.”