Dogs and fireworks don't mix

The Fourth of July has come and gone, but one by-product of all the loud bangs and bright flashes of the fireworks is stray dogs. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter Rick Wells has sniffed out a story of dogs

Wednesday, July 6th 2005, 10:25 am

By: News On 6

The Fourth of July has come and gone, but one by-product of all the loud bangs and bright flashes of the fireworks is stray dogs.

News on 6 reporter Rick Wells has sniffed out a story of dogs lost and now found, victims of those "dog gone fireworksâ€.

All the bright lights and big bangs of Fourth of July celebrations can turn even calm and well behaved dogs into escape artists. Clark Rogers with Tulsa Animal Control: "they would jump a fence when they normally wouldn't, they may even attempt to chew through a fence or dig under it just to get away."

Rogers says people have been coming in steadily since the weekend walking through hoping to see a familiar face. Most of these dogs came in over the weekend, not all victims of fireworks fear, but many could be.

And not all dogs spooked by a black cat, end up at the shelter. Lani Hill found a dog [pictured] in her front yard late in the evening of the Fourth. She knows it must be somebody's house dog; it's so clean and well kept. But she was afraid to let it just run loose. "I knew if I let it go he'd probably just keep running cause he was so scared." So she put it in the garage and since then it's had the run of the backyard.

Clark Rogers at the shelter says itâ€™s the same every year, the bright flashes and loud bangs disorient some dogs so much they run then can't find their way home. Maybe some will get lucky.

If your dog escaped over the holiday weekend, it could be at the Tulsa Animal Shelter. You can reach them at 669-6299.