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(SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CA.) – Santa Barbara County Animal Services (SBCAS) is encouraging pet owners to be ready Before the Boom to keep pets safe, secure, and identifiable before fireworks begin for Fourth of July. Fireworks can frighten even calm pets, causing them to hide, panic, run, or escape through doors, windows, gates, and fences. To help reduce lost pets and improve reunification, community members can plan ahead by microchipping pets, updating contact information, using collars and ID tags, securing homes and yards, creating quiet indoor spaces, and using lost/found pet resources quickly if a pet goes missing. Throughout June, pet owners can visit any SBCAS shelter during regular business hours for free microchips, crate loans, collars, and ID tags. These resources are available Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all three shelter locations.
SBCAS encourages pet owners to prepare before fireworks begin by: