As fireworks light up the skies on Independence Day, Santa Barbara County Animal Services (SBCAS) shelters will remain open for regular business hours over the holiday weekend, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, July 1 through Sunday, July 6.

Shelter staff and volunteers will be available to assist with lost and found pets, stray animal intake, and reuniting pets and their families.

“July 4th is one of the busiest times of the year for our animal shelters due to fireworks-related escapes,” said Sarah Aguilar, director of Animal Services. “We take in an average of 200 animals during the holiday weekend and over 75% of those are lost pets.

“Keeping our doors open during this critical time is part of our commitment to public safety and to helping families get their pets back home quickly.” she said.

SBCAS offers the following recommendations:

  • Microchip your pets.
  • Ensure your pets have ID tags with current contact information.
  • Keep pets indoors and in a secure environment during fireworks displays.
  • Create a safe, quiet space where your pet can feel secure.
  • If you find a stray animal, check for tags and have it scanned for a microchip. Your local SBCAS shelter can help.

For non-emergency reunifications, SBCAS recommends checking Petco Love Lost, a free
online tool that uses facial recognition to match lost and found pets: http://sbcanimalservices.org/lostfound.

SBCAS encourages residents to act quickly if they’ve lost a pet or found someone else’s.

“The sooner a pet is reported lost or found, the more likely we are to reunite them with
their family before they enter the shelter system,” Aguilar said.

To help residents prepare this Fourth of July, SBCAS will continue offering free microchips and crate loans through July 7.

Pet owners can stop by any shelter location during business hours to borrow a crate at no cost, providing pets a calm, contained space during stressful events.

Visit one of the following SBCAS locations for a free microchip, or to borrow a crate:

  • Santa Maria Animal Center, 548 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria
  • Lompoc Animal Center, 1501 W. Central Ave., Lompoc
  • Santa Barbara Animal Center, 5473 Overpass Road, Santa Barbara

For more about services, shelter locations, and how to get involved, visit
www.sbcanimalservices.org/july4.