The Fourth of July is just around the corner and that means family fun and other festivities for people. But, for our pets, it can be a frightening time.

 Becky Barnhardt with Coffeyville Friends of Animals says it's time to start thinking about preparations and precautions to make the holiday easier on our furry friends. Barnhardt says there are some simple things you can do to ease your pet's anxiety.

Other steps you can take are to make sure your pets ID tags and microchips have up-to-date information, have a current photo of your pet, and make sure your backyard is secure. Those with larger animals such as horses might consider a break-away safety halter marked with your contact information and make sure pasture fences are secure enough to keep livestock confined.