Long Beach Animal Care Services is clearing space in its shelter in anticipation that dozens of frightened pets will flee their homes on the Fourth of July on Tuesday.

In order to do that, officials for the first time are asking the public to foster pets already in the shelter on a temporary basis, possibly a few weeks, to “give us some breathing room,” according to Ted Stevens, manager of Animal Care Services.

The population in local kennels typically doubles in the days before and after the Fourth of July, officials said. Last year, 49 canines were impounded during Independence Day festivities in Long Beach, ACS reported then.

The new program, called Foster the Fourth, is patterned after a similar effort in Los Angeles. ACS needs volunteers to pick up shelter animals on Sunday with the anticipation that they will be returned on July 16.

“If somebody can’t do it that long, then we’ll take what we can get,” Stevens said. “The perfect scenario is while you’re fostering it, a friend or family member sees the dog, adopts it and hopefully the dog never comes back.”

ACS hopes to clear 15 to 20 kennels by early next week.

By mid-July, animal care officials hope most of the strays will have been returned to their owners.

Despite the fact that most are returned, Stevens said the effort over the Fourth of July takes a lot of time and staff resources. Dogs who run away are sometimes injured and must be cared for.

Animal care officials say pet owners should take precautions to keep their pets safe on the Fourth of July, including:

• Isolate pets indoors at home; they will be happier and not tempted to try to get away due to loud sounds.

• If your dog is crate trained, put him in a crate covered with a blanket to make him feel more secure.

• Create a peaceful environment in your home, play soothing music and lower the blinds to block outside sights and sounds. If your pet seems anxious, spend time with him soothing him with a calm voice.

• A sudden change in your pet’s diet can cause an upset stomach; avoid feeding your pet scraps from the grill and other human food. Some foods like onion, avocado, grapes and raisins can be toxic. Pets should never be given bones, especially from chicken.

• Consult your veterinarian regarding the use of medication to help calm your pet

• Keep pets away from flames, matches, and lighter fluid.

• Do not spray pets with insect repellent or sunscreen that is intended for humans; they can be extremely irritating to the stomach, lungs and central nervous system if ingested.

• Even if your pet is indoors, double-check yard gates and doors to make sure that pets cannot escape.

ACS officials also stress that owners should ensure that pets are wearing identification, including the name and current telephone number of the owner, and confirm your pet’s microchip registration information is registered or updated.

If you would like to foster a pet, call Live Love Animal Rescue at 213-282-7297, or email ACS at animalcare@longbeach.gov.