Bonnie Hays Shelter Reminds Pet Owners to Take Special Care During the Oregon Air Show

It's a time when many frightened pets run away

While you’re looking skyward at the stunts and majesty of flight during the Oregon Air Show in Hillsboro this weekend, remember to think of your pets on the ground. Every year, many animals, frightened by the noise, bolt from their homes.

“When we humans see the magnificent planes flying in formation we are thrilled. To a pet, they are a terrifying threat. Animals presented with a threat like that are very likely to do anything they can to escape,” says Deborah Wood, manager of Animal Services at the Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter in Hillsboro.

To prevent pets from becoming frightened and lost, pet owners should be prepared much like they are for the Fourth of July.

To prevent your pet from becoming lost:

**Make sure your pet has identification. Every pet should have collar tags and a microchip.

**If you live within earshot of the planes, keep your pets inside this week. “Frightened animals can get out of a fenced area they would never leave under normal circumstances,” says Wood.

**Make your home a sanctuary for your pet. Have an interior room (such as a bathroom or basement with no windows) where your pet can stay if he’s fearful of the noise. Keep a radio or TV on for “white noise” to soften the sounds of the airplanes. Many people find that ThunderShirts, available at pet supply stores, can also be calming for pets.

If you lose a pet:

Check with the Bonnie Hays shelter. All stray animals are available to view on the shelter’s website (www.washingtoncountypets.com – click on “Lost and Found”).

Also, call the shelter and report a lost pet even if the pet is not on the website – the shelter may have received a “found pet” report from someone in the community. The number to call for a lost or found pet report is 503-846- 7039.

People can pick or drop off stray pets found in Washington County from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and from noon until 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. The shelter is closed on Sundays. The shelter is located at 1901 SE 24 th Street in Hillsboro (on Tualatin Valley Highway adjacent to Lowe’s and Home Depot).

Department of Health & Human Services ● Animal Services Division ● 1901 SE 24 th Avenue, MS 53, Hillsboro, OR 97123

Phone (503) 846-7041 Fax (503) 846-7074 E-mail Animal_Services @co.washington.or.us