Plus Pet Safety for 4th of July Holiday
KC Pet Project will host their annual Red, White, and Woof Adoption Event starting Wednesday, June 28th and the special will continue through Wednesday, July 5th. This year, adoptions will be fee-waived during the extended event.
Pet adoptions will be fee-waived for all dogs 20 pounds or more and adult cats at the KC Campus for Animal Care, at their Zona Rosa Adoption Center, the Petco store on 95th and Quivira, and pets in foster homes qualify too. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to adopt a new best friend. New pets become available for adoption every day, and you can view all of them on their website.
All KC Pet Project locations will be open normal hours for the holiday on July 4th.
Pet Safety for the 4th of July Holiday
The 4th of July holiday is a time that can be very stressful for pets in our community. Here are some helpful tips for pets and the 4th of July:
- Keep your pets away from fireworks. They can be loud, scary, and dangerous for any pet to be around.
- If your pet is afraid of thunderstorms and fireworks, leave your pet inside during any festivities in an interior room of the house. Leave a TV or radio on for white noise.
- Make sure your animal is always wearing an ID tag and collar, even if they are an indoor-only animal. If you do not have a pet ID tag, we’ll be selling them in our retail store for a discount during the week leading up to the 4th of July.
- Have your pet microchipped and make sure all their information is up-to-date.
- It’s expected to be hot out on the 4th of July – leave your pets at home for any outdoor activities or events planned.
- KC Pet Project has retail items available for purchase including Thundershirts, calming treats, calming collars and more.
If you find a lost pet around the 4th of July:
- Walk around your neighborhood to see if you can locate the owner.
- Post on Facebook, Next Door, and in any neighborhood group you’re in help locate the owner.
- Review KC Pet Project’s Found Pet Resources for additional tips on what to do if you find a pet.
If your pet becomes lost on the 4th of July:
- Please review KC Pet Project’s Lost Pet Resources for steps to take if your pet becomes lost around the 4th of July.
- Make sure you have a recent photo of your animal handy in case they do escape to help identify them.
Pet Safety High Temperatures
With warmer temperatures moving into the area this week, KC Pet Project’s Animal Services Division would like to issue the following tips to keep your pets safe.
- Make sure your pet has proper shelter out of the elements, such as a dog house or shade, or, if you can, bring them inside
- Do not leave your pet in a hot car
- Limit walks outside during warm weather as the pet can become overheated
- Leave your pet(s) home during outdoor activities
- Keep fresh water and food out for your pets at all times
- If you see an animal in distress in Kansas City, MO, please call 311 or 816-683-1373 to report it
Pets can undergo heat strokes, so watch for signs that your pet is experiencing this:
- A dog’s normal body temperature is 101 to 102.5 degrees. If their temperatures reaches 107 degrees, they can suffer brain damage or even death.
- Heatstroke symptoms include: excessive panting, a sudden stopping of panting, salivation, an anxious or staring expression, weakness, muscle tremors, red tongue, blue lips, vomiting,
collapse or coma.
If your dog show symptoms of heatstroke, immediately do the following:
- Move the dog to a cool, shady place
- Don’t allow water immediately – this can cause water toxicity
- Don’t pour cool water on them
- Take them straight to an emergency veterinarian and call to let them know you’re on your way
KC Pet Project’s Animal Services Division is working diligently to plan for the upcoming holiday weekend and the warmer temperatures by delivering resources and provide support to the community. The entire division recently reviewed protocols revolving around pets left in hot vehicles and how best to assist owners during these warm summer months. They have also been providing resource deliveries, such as dog houses, food, and humane tethers, to work with the community in order to keep more pets in their homes and with their families.