Bernalillo County Animal Care Services advises pet owners to create safe, quiet spaces for their pets during the New Year’s Eve holiday.

“Animals should be secured indoors on New Year’s Eve due to the fireworks and gunshots that will inevitably be going off and all animals should have identification in case they escape,” says Bernalillo County Animal Care Services Director Misha Goodman. “A dog’s hearing is much more acute than humans and the high pitched sounds from fireworks and gunshots may result in physical or emotional damage to your pet.”

Pets should be kept inside this time of the year due to cold temperatures, but animals frightened or confused by the fireworks or gunshots may run away or even jump fences to try to escape the noise.

To locate a missing animal, follow these suggestions:

1. Check social media sites and file a lost report – Petharbor.com, Nextdoor, Facebook, Adoptapet.com.
2. Check with your local animal shelter’s website or call the City of Albuquerque at 311 or in unincorporated Bernalillo County call 505-314-0281