Fireworks Send Animals Running

For many families lighting those fireworks is tradition. You may enjoy it, but chances are your pets don`t. All the action is enough make Fido not stick around for the finale. Nicole wood plays with her dog alley to pass the time. All she can think about lately is her two missing pets. "They`re like family...like my kids," Wood said. Wood`s two labs, Jake and Baby Girl, broke through a fence Friday night. She thinks fireworks meant to celebrate the fourth of July sent her pouches into a panic. The animal shelter in Texarkana is cramed with dogs and cats that have wandered away. The exodus is all too familiar for shelter director Roy Stanley. "Most animals have sensitive ears and they don`t like the loud bangs," Stanley said. During this time of year, the shelter averages a thousand animals a month. Workers do their best to find the original owners, but if no one comes forward, they`ll try to adopt the pets out. "Unfortunately we are able to adopt out only ten percent or so," Stanley said. The remaining 900 animals have to be put down. Stanley urges pet owners to keep them either inside or in a secure pen for the next few days. Wood has since fixed her fence. She`s holding out hope that her dogs will eventually find their way home. Experts say this is a good time to get your pets identification tags update. This way if they take off, animal control officers can track you down.