Ways to Keep Your Four-Legged Friends Safe and Sound During Fourth of July 2025
Portland, Oregon is one of the most pet-friendly places in the United States. Many of us have at least one cat, dog, or other creature as a loved and cherished part of our family. For some Portland pet owners, the Fourth of July is a special source of anxiety. Loud sounds throughout the night are just one of the things that we can’t explain or rationalize to our pets to keep them from stressing out- so here is a blog of things we can do to minimize the Fourth of July related stress on our pets this summer.
Find Your Pets Quiet Place
Your pet probably has a safe and quiet place in your home where they go whenever they need some space. For some pets it’s a crate, for others the basement or a closet amongst the soft, warm clothes of their family. If you can arrange your pet’s safe space to be free of view of the window and away from doors to the outside, even filling it with some of your pet’s favorite items, this could be your pet’s needed reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the summer holiday.
Dim the Light and Sound, if Possible
Keeping the pets away from windows and doors serves two purposes: 1) your pet will be shielded from the bright, flashing lights that accompany fireworks, and 2) your pet will be less of a flight risk if they do get scared if they’re not close to windows or doors to the outside. If you can’t keep them away from windows, curtains are a great alternative. Some pets do well with TV or music to dim the sounds of fireworks and other party noises.
Prepare Before the Party
To make sure you and your family are as prepared as you can be, make sure you all know that your pet is microchipped. This way, if something does happen and your pet gets out of the house, the folks looking for the pet with you can all confidently say that the pet is chipped if someone should find it and take it to a vet. The day of the Fourth of July festivities, it’s always good to try to keep the day packed with activities for your animal to tire them out as it’s best to be low on energy during this potentially stressful night for them. When the fireworks die down and your pet is comfortable going outside solo again, please make sure you take a walk through your property’s outside area to make sure no harmful firework debris or party litter could be eaten by your pet.
