As residents prepare to ring in the New Year, Riverside County Animal Services officials urge pet families to take measures to ensure their pets remain safe and secure at home, preventing unnecessary strain on local shelters.
“With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, now is a good time to shore up gates and fences where pets can make a quick escape,” Riverside County Department of Animal Services Director Erin Gettis said. “The celebratory sounds, just like those we experience on Fourth of July can be unsettling for animals, causing them to scramble for a hiding place and possibly go missing.”
Gettis recommends proactive planning for pet families, emphasizing the importance of securing homes, backyards, and properties to prevent pets from getting loose. During celebrations, keeping pets indoors in a quiet room ensures their calmness. Additionally, microchipping pets and ensuring they wear a collar ID outdoors are crucial steps for their safety.
Pet owners can register their pets in the Peco Love Lost portal for free at at www.rcdas.org. Petco Love Lost is a nonprofit central database for lost and found pets and the only lost and found tool using image-recognition technology to reunite pets and people. To register and upload a photo of your pet, visit https://lost.petcolove.org.
“Awareness and preparation make a difference,” Gettis said. “We want your pets home safe with you; not in our shelters.”
