Dogs frightened by fireworks wind up in Bay Area animal shelters

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Holiday celebrations for some turn into a night of terror for the four legged members of families, some of whom now need help getting back home.

Employees at Oakland Animals Services say they received several frightened dogs before they were even open to the public Tuesday. And even one day after the July 4 holiday in the parking lot of the shelter illegal fireworks could be heard going off.

Employees at Oakland Animal Services say it's pretty clear what happened to this female stray. They believe she got spooked by illegal fireworks.

"A lot of dogs get very traumatized by the sound and even a little bit of the vibration and they will just try to flee, and it's fight or flight, and some of them run right through fences," said Kelly Miotto of Oakland Animal Services.

That's what they say happened to one dog who had visible cuts to her face and body

"Sometimes it can take them a long time to come down from that fear and anxiety," Miotto said.

Oakland Animal Services received calls for related to illegal fireworks. Two are still being treated by emergency vets. The problem hasn't been isolated to July 4.

"We've had some illegal fireworks going off in the back of our shelter this afternoon and one of our dogs that was just an office dog is trembling in a kennel and trying to get as far away from the noise as she can," Miotto said.

In the meantime, the Peninsula Humane Society in Burlingame says it received 16 stray dogs July 4, three times the norm for an average weekend day, much less the average Monday.

"This time of year, we see a real uptick in the number of animals that come to us, largely as strays, terrified of the bombs bursting in air and really needing a place to wait for their families to come find them," said Ken White of the Peninsula Humane Society.

Back in Oakland, animal services advises dog owners to stay close by their pets in a dark quiet place if illegal fireworks are still going off. A difficult option for stray animals outside fending for themselves.