Prepare Your Pets for Fireworks
As Independence Day approaches, keep your pets safe and make sure they don't become lost with some helpful tips and resources. Even with limitations on fireworks in Portland and in other regional communities, now is the time to gather supplies, prepare your home, and talk with your vet if needed. Be prepared to prevent lost pets!
Ahead of the Independence Day holiday, learn about services and resources to prepare for fireworks, prevent pet loss, and how to find lost pets.
Multnomah County Animal Services will be closed on July 4. Emergency services will be available by calling 503-988-7387. MCAS will be open on July 5, to accept found animals and help owners reclaim lost pets.
Firework Safety Basics For Pets
Be prepared to help your pets through their fears during Independence Day.
- Safety and Prevention: Never bring pets to firework displays or leave them locked in cars while you watch. Even in moderately cool weather, cars experience a greenhouse effect, with dangerously high temperatures.
- Be present: One of the best things you can do for your pets is to be present for them. You can calm them better than a pet-sitter or a kennel staff member. When you see that they’re afraid, call to them. Go to your pet, or invite them to join you where you are. Give them rubs and scratches. Talk with them. Be silly with them. Play their favorite games. Turn a scary experience into a learning opportunity.
- Secure your home: Plan ahead, and identify ways your pet could escape. Close open windows and doors. Don’t leave pets outdoors where they could jump a fence, or indoors near screen doors and windows if they panic and bolt. Make sure guests coming and going are careful not to let pets slip through the door. (source)
- Give your pet a safe space: Give your pet a confined, safe space in the center of your home, such as a spacious closet or a bathroom with a comfortable bed and water. (source)
- Use ambient noise: Play comforting music, or noise from a radio or TV. (source)
- Seek help from a veterinarian: If your pet has a history of fear or anxiety with loud noises, including fireworks, talk with your veterinarian about your options. They may be able to prescribe medication to help calm your pet. They may also recommend a specially-made calming vest or wrap to calm and provide comfort. (source)
- Make sure your pets are licensed so MCAS can contact you as soon as they arrive at the shelter. Licensing can be done online at MultcoPets.org.
- Make sure pets are wearing collars with tags, and that the contact information on the tag is current.
- Microchip your pet and update your contact information with the microchip registry. Microchipping is a powerful tool to reunite lost pets with owners if lost. You can update microchips of pets from MCAS at 24PetWatch.
