Four months ago, Wendy Wills brought home a spotted tan and white Bull Terrier from a rescue shelter in Houston. She says she's cared for Stella as if she were one of her children, who are both grown. So when Stella went missing a week ago, Wendy was horrified.

"I put her out in the yard at 6 a.m. and when I came out at 7:30 a.m., she was gone and the gate was open," says Wills.

Before Wendy could question how Stella got out of the back yard, she immediately began making lost dog flyers. Wendy says she looked around her apartment complex for Stella, but when that search turned up empty, she continued it in her car. She says she spent hours posting signs and asking neighbors if they'd seen Stella. Although some had, they had no clue the dog's direction of travel.

"If she'd only had that tag, if she just had that tag with a phone number," says Wills.

Wendy says she doesn't want other pet owners to experience the horror felt when a pet goes missing. She says if pet owners would get tags, it would increase the chances of their pet being returned safely if it goes missing.

"Usually because of the fireworks on July 4, we see more of an increase in dogs," says Ashley Wesp, Brazos Animal Shelter director.

The day following July 4th is the busiest day at the Brazos Animal Shelter. Wesp says the loud pops of fireworks causes animals to run scared. On July 5, 2008, 26 dogs were picked up by animal control officers and brought to the shelter. The shelter typically receives 12 dogs daily.

"They should be identified all the time just for the occasional time they get out of the fence," says Wesp.

Wesp suggests pet owners get tags and/or microchips just in case their dog is ever lost. Stella has a microchip implant, but Wendy doesn't think that's enough because the chips often go undetected.

"I didn't think that it was that important and now I know it was the biggest mistake I could've ever made"

The Brazos Animal Shelter will be closed July 4, and will not open until Monday July 6. The shelter expects its lost dog intake to increase 200 percent on Monday. The shelter suggests making preparations before the holiday weekend to ensure your pets safety.

"For the Fourth of July in particular, if your pet especially is scared of thunder or loud noises, be sure to take those precautions to keep that pet either crated or in a bathroom that doesn't have a window," says Wesp.