The Albury pound had nine reports early yesterday of dogs scared enough by the fireworks to leave home.

And online sites, including the Animals Lost And Found, Albury-Wodonga and Surrounding Area Facebook page, had at least 15 posts from people who had either found animals or had lost them.

Even owners who thought their dogs were safe at home found that they had escaped.

A Glenroy family was relieved to be reunited with their kelpie, Dash.

Justin Anderson said he knew Dash became nervous during fireworks and thunderstorms so they had kept the dog close to them, so they could comfort her.

“It was midnight and she just bolted — she was beside herself and was gone all night,” he said.

“We went looking for her last night and drove around this morning but there was no sign of her.”

Albury pound compliance officer Carly McDougall received a report that Dash had been found at the corner of Logan Road and Alemein Ave.

Ms McDougall said it just another lesson for people to remember that they should lock up their pets when there was a chance of them being frightened.

“Nine in one day is a lot. That’s the amount sometimes reported in a week,” she said.

“Every year we expect that fireworks will set dogs off. It’s the same story.”

It was a quiet New Year’s Eve for Wodonga rangers with only two calls for lost dogs on the night and another two in the morning.

Ms McDougall said she expected any person who had found a dog would report it to either the Albury pound, a vet or the council.

“A lot of people fear that if they call the pound the dog involved will be killed,” she said.

“We want to remind people that it is the law to report finding a dog.

“The animals will be returned to their home or we will find them a new one.

“We also want people to make sure their pet’s microchip details are up to date so they can be returned home quickly.”