January 6, 2006
NBC; San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Dozens of pets disappeared in the South Bay during the long New Year's holiday weekend after being spooked by fireworks or the powerful rain storms, animal shelter officials said.

The number of lost pets reported to the Humane Society Silicon Valley took a big jump this week compared with the same time last year, with some days seeing a more than fivefold increase, said spokeswoman Laura Fulda.

"We had 33 lost animal reports on Tuesday," Fulda said. "Normally we get one to six."

Fulda said animals often run away when people are on vacation or get frightened when people set off fireworks in residential neighborhoods.

San Jose's Animal Care Center also saw a spike in lost pet reports since the long holiday weekend, but did not have statistics, said spokeswoman Julie St. Gregory.

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