County animal control takes in 200-plus strays over holiday weekend

After a weekend of haboobs, fireworks and storms, a lot of pets went missing.

“We took in 207 stray animals on Saturday and Sunday,” said Melissa Gable with Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. “That’s actually down from 2013 where we took in 260 animals.”

Some pets are spooked by the fireworks from Fourth of July celebrations, or from the wind, thunder and rain brought in by the monsoon.

“It’s a little lower than the previous year, but still a lot of animals,” Gable said. “Unfortunately, a lot of those animals that come to us don’t have any form of identification.”

Owners of missing pets can check two Maricopa County Animal Care and Control shelters in Phoenix or Mesa.