Aly Raisman, an Olympian gold medal-winning gymnast and Boston resident, asked for help finding her dog, Mylo, after he went missing Saturday night.
Raisman posted on Twitter and Instagram that her puppy was "terrified of fireworks and ran off," which were happening as part of Harborfest in the Seaport District.
WATCH ANYTIME FOR FREE
 |
>Stream NBC10 Boston news for free, 24/7, wherever you are. |
The two-time Olympian urged her followers not to go out and actively search for Mylo. She posted again Sunday afternoon asking people to post fliers around the city. The dog is described as brown with blue eyes and weighs about 35 lbs.
"He is terrified, and the folks at Missing Dogs Mass advised that we don’t have anyone yelling his name or running around looking for him," Raisman wrote. "I was told that scared dogs will make bad decisions if they are pressured, and that is the last thing that we want to have happen."
Get updates on what's happening in Boston to your inbox. Sign up for our >News Headlines newsletter.
Anyone who sees Mylo is asked to message Raisman directly on Instagram or twitter.
More pets go missing July 4 and 5 than any other day of the year, according to the American Kennel Club.
Animal experts suggest making sure pets have a safe place to rest, somewhere they feel comfortable, with background music or white noise machines to drown out the sound of the fireworks. Some lavender oil under the dog's nose can also help to reduce anxiety.
"If you know your dog already has anxiety, go and talk to your vet," said Laura Burban, of the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter in Connecticut. "Sometimes they have things there that can help calm the dogs."
Experts also warn pet owners to watch out for signs of distress like trembling, drooling, destructive behavior and also self-harm.
