Fourth of July noisemakers can terrify pets.

Byline: Rebecca Nolan The Register-Guard

As the DeLoretto-Chudy family of Eugene prepares for Fourth of July festivities, they do so missing a beloved member of the family.

Their dog died Monday after repeatedly ramming itself into a backyard fence.

The family believes that exploding fireworks made the elderly dog frantic, prompting it to try to escape to safety. But before it could break through the fence, it died of its injuries.

Sadly, such incidents are not particularly rare, although few result in death, said Randi Golub, animal care coordinator for the Greenhill Humane Society.

Dogs startled by fireworks have crashed through windows, busted through screen doors, broken away from chains and leashes and scaled high fences to get away from the flashing sight and ear-splitting sound of the explosives.

"It happens with the sound of thunder, the sound of fireworks, any really loud noise and some dogs just freak out," Golub said. "It's something that scares them and they want to get away from it."

July 5 is the busiest day of the year for many animal shelters, whose workers field dozens of phone calls from owners searching for their escaped pets, Golub said. Dogs and cats can be found miles away, confused, disoriented and exhausted, she said. Some never return home.

Golub recommended that pets be kept inside the quietest part of the home, where they can feel safe. Keeping the television or music on can help dampen the noise.

If necessary, owners should consult their veterinarians about possibly tranquilizing their animals, and all pets should have identification tags in case they do escape.

Pets sometimes chase fireworks and try to catch them in their mouths, which can lead to burns and other injuries, said Mike Wellington, program manager of the Lane County Animal Regulation Authority. They can also bite and scratch people when startled by bright lights and noise.

During the holiday weekend, pets should be leashed, even when in enclosed outdoor spaces, he said.

All the excitement can cause humans to hurt themselves or others, as well.

To prevent that, Oregon State Police and other police agencies will increase patrols statewide beginning at midnight tonight and continuing through Sunday. Police will be keeping an eye out for drunk drivers.

You can report an intoxicated driver by calling (800) 24-DRUNK or 911. It helps to have a description of the car, the location, the direction of travel and if possible the license plate number.

Impaired drivers killed 17,970 people in the United States last year alone, said state police Capt. Chuck Hayes. Nationwide, the number of deaths caused by drunken driving is on the rise, he said.

The July 4 weekend resulted in two traffic deaths in Oregon last year, and troopers responded to 103 crashes and arrested 54 people on suspicion of driving under the influence. They also issued 817 speeding tickets and cited 120 people for not wearing seat belts.

Less dangerous but still a nuisance is a new type of firework that shoots Mylar streamers into the air. During last year's holiday, the streamers were blamed for five power outages that left 2,400 Eugene Water & Electric Board customers in the dark, the utility said.

The streamers contain a material that conducts electricity. When they come into contact with overhead power lines, they short out fuses or cause breakers to trip at substations.

Also, they pose a hazard to anyone who touches a streamer dangling from a power line. The potential electrical shock could seriously hurt or even kill someone, said Dave Koski, EWEB's electric operations supervisor. Anyone who sees the red, white and blue streamers dangling from lines is asked to call EWEB at 484-2411.

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INSIDE July Fourth celebrations: What's going on and where / D2