CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As Fourth of July events kick off this weekend, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control says fun activities for pet owners may actually be stressful for pets.

Melissa Knicely with Animal Care and Control says certain things can cause PTSD in your pets.

“Fireworks, thunder and lightning and things like that, it really causes stress and anxiety in animals, and a lot of times when animals are scared, it’s that fight of flight. A lot of times they want to run and that’s how a lot of them get lost from their owners,” Knicely said.

According to Animal Care and Control, more pets are lost on the Fourth of July weekend compared to any other time of year.

To prepare, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control is hosting a “prep your pet” event Saturday, July 1. The event starts at 8 a.m. at the adoption center, located at 8315 Byrum Drive in Charlotte.

Pets can get free vaccines, microchips, pet I.D tags, dog thundershirts, dog dental chews and treats and pet food. 

There will be a vendor fair from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Adoption fees will be waived with a donation to support shelter programs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Knicely advises pet owners to make sure their pet’s registration information, which is connected to its microchip, is updated with the latest contact information. She advises keeping pets at home and in an interior room, like a closet, during fireworks in order to muffle loud noises.

“It may be fun for me to have my dog, but is it actually fun for my dog to be out amongst a lot of crowds, a lot of noise, maybe loud music and then of course the thunder and lightning – if it will happen – and for Fourth of July, the fireworks?” Knicely said.