NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — More pets go missing on the 4th of July than any other day during the year.
News 2 checked in with officials at Metro Animal Care and Control (MACC), a shelter already that has already faced overcrowding this year, to see if they saw an influx of lost animals following Nashville's display of fireworks.
Officials said that they took in nearly half a dozen new animals at the shelter on Harding Place. They added that more are expected to come as celebrations continue into the weekend
Two dogs were also found in the Metro Nashville community last night, but those were chip scanned in the field returned home.
On July 3, MACC officials told News 2 that they typically see an influx of animals at their shelter following the holiday each year. While there are new additions since last night, staff said that this year's intake is already lower than in previous years.
If you find a lost pet in your community, there are a few things you can do to help get them back home.
"Before you bring them to us check around in your neighborhood, if it's a dog, a lot of the times if usually it's not maybe more than a mile or so from its home," Matt Peters, MACC public information officer, said. "It's almost it's very rarely more than a mile away from home."
"A lot of times with a dog, if you put them on a leash and you kind of start walking, they might even lead you to their home," Peters said. "There are a lot of lost and found groups on Facebook, some kind of community specific some wider across Nashville."
If you lost your dog, MACC officials recommended visiting the local shelter to do a walk-though to look at their holds. Reclamation fees are temporarily being waived. You can also check 24Petconnect to file a missing pet report.