More pets are lost on Independence Day than any other day.
Here are some tips for keeping your dog safe!

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1.) Go for a long walk before celebrating. If you normally take your dog out for thirty minutes, take a two-hour hike instead! You want your dog to be completely exhausted. This way his brain will be so tired that he won't be able to concentrate on the fireworks.

2.) Use canine-safe ear plugs. It is natural for dogs to be afraid of loud noises. The sounds trigger their nervous system, and they may become nervous, afraid, unsure, or shy. Running away from the noise is a survival mechanism. If you can block the noise, it may curb the "flight" response.

3.) Distract your dog. Once the fireworks go off, ask him to do obedience behavior, put him on the treadmill, or strap on his backpack. This helps him focus on something other than the noise.

4.) Involve your dog's nose. Scents such as lavender or pine can help encourage your dog to relax.

5.) Maintain calm and assertive energy. Don't feel sorry or frustrated. Don't blame the fireworks or the people setting them off. These negative emotions will just feed your dog's anxiety; it won't help the situation!

6.) Keep your dog on a leash. This will give you more control and help you prevent your dog from running off.

7.) Make sure your dog has I.D. If your dog does become lost, tags and microchips can get him back to you safely. You may also want to consider investing in a device that allows you to locate your dog immediately, like Global Pet Finder.

8.) Be proactive! If you learn that your dog is nervous around fireworks, start preparing now for next year. I recommend that you begin conditioning your dog to be comfortable with these loud sounds at least three months in advance. Don't wait until Independence Day to introduce your dog to the loud sounds associated with fireworks. Download the sounds of firecrackers, pistols, and other loud noises, and allow your dog to hear them at a low volume while he's eating, walking, sleeping, and watching TV with you. Gradually increase the volume each day until your dog is comfortable with the sounds at the highest level. I also recommend that you introduce the scent of fireworks to your dog, so he becomes comfortable with that. It's a simple process, but it takes time. Don't wait until the last minute to do something about it, and next year it will be a walk in the park!

THANK YOU Lady Elaine for the reminder!!  I work in an animal hospital and the day after holidays is always super busy with calls about lost (or found) animals or animals sick from eating "goodies" they're not used to.  Our pets are so ready to be there for us 24/7, let's make sure we are there for them even when there's partying going on.

This is definitely good advice for us as we live smack dab in the middle of a large city with several forms of FW going off all around us.  And he's a nervous dog anyway.

What about kee-kees?  Any good tips for the little furballs?

I suppose I can count myself lucky that I've never had dogs particularly bothered with them... I take it for granted that taffy behaves so well, and the dog we had before her did too.  Two days ago was Canada's birthday, and taffy and I cuddled up on the back deck together to watch them.  
I'll try to send out calming energies to your critters tomorrow, hope they all have an uneventful night!

Thank you for the advice.  Poor Sage doesn't like thunderstorms so I can just imagine him around fireworks.  Luckily I live on 40 acres in the country but the people behind my property I know will either shoot their guns or fireworks or both. I have decided to just keep Sage inside and when he needs to go to the bathroom take him outside on a leash.  I will definately be giving him a lot of loving tomorrow just like I do when he is dealing with storms.  But he is such a wonderful dog and I love him so much I would do nothing less.  He loves me and comforts me so much when I cry or have a seizure.  I dont' knwo what I do if I lost him.  Again thank you for the advice.