The Fourth of July is a joyous time for most. People often get together with family and friends for cookouts and fireworks.

However, for some of our furry friends, the sights and sounds of Independence Day can be daunting.

The number of lost or injured pets tends to go up around the Fourth of July.

An uptick of 30 to 60% of pets are lost solely because of the loud noises associated with July 4, meaning fireworks, pets may run away from fear.

News 12 spoke to Dr. Mark Rosenfeld, a veterinarian at Raritan Animal Hospital in Edison, about ways to safeguard our fur babies over the holiday weekend.

"One of the best things you could do is create a safe space around the house maybe a little nook a cranny if there’s a safe cupboard cushions just some of the ways you can calm your dog if there’s pillows on the wall or blankets you could put up that will dull the sound so they don’t have to get scared by it," Rosenfeld said.

And if they do take off out of fear, the doctor says to make sure your pet is microchipped.

Some other dangers to watch out for include burns from fireworks, ingesting fireworks or human food that can be dangerous for pets.

Adam Ducoff, from Piscataway, says he knows how to keep his dog Jax away from things that could be harmful.

"I just yell at him, 'No get away,' and I give him one of his treats and he’ll go off," Ducoff said.

"Your avocado, your barbeque bones, chocolate, your onions... all those types of things we’ve seen way too many of those cases and we don’t want to see them this July Fourth," said Rosenfeld.

Rosenfeld also said in more extreme cases, pet owners can talk to their veterinarians about calming medication for their furry friends.