While the idea of Fourth of July celebrations may sound fun, El Paso Animal Services said our furry friends might think otherwise.
El Paso Animal Services Center said they already had more than 1000 animals at their location and that number is expected to go up at the end of the holiday.
RECOMMENDED: Dogs at EPAS enjoyed some fun outdoors this weekend
The shelter asked the community to take an extra step to keep their pets safe.
"If your pet is microchipped, they’re wearing their collar and tags, animal protection officers and the community will be able to reunite your pets with you that much quicker," said Michele Anderson, marketing and public engagement manager of the El Paso Animal Services Center.
In an effort to help pet owners in El Paso, the shelter offered free tags for owners that need it.
The tags should be placed on their collar and pets can be tracked if they run away.
The shelter believed it is best to keep pets indoors, but if owners want to take them out to celebrate, they strongly recommended keeping them on a leash.
Patricia Cruz went into the shelter on Monday looking for her dog Milo who she lost the Saturday around the Ivanhoe and Edgemere area.
Cruz has had Milo for over 10 years.
She said she is worried for him, especially since she knew he was alone and he usually gets agitated by fireworks or any other loud noises.
"He suffers from anxiety and the fireworks make him very anxious, so he doesn't deal with it very well," said Cruz.
The shelter's main goal is to keep as many pets out of their overcrowded center as possible.
If your pet runs away during the holiday, you can check the shelter in northeast El Paso.
The shelter will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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