Blog post created by Sam Cryer, Greenhill Humane Society volunteer

Summer can be a lot of fun for pets and people alike, but before heading to a neighborhood Fourth of July celebration, make sure your pets are happy and safe. Fireworks are a fun celebration for us, but for our pets, they can be confusing, disorienting and scary. Even though most major celebrations have been canceled this year to comply with social distancing, chances are there will still be plenty of firecrackers going off around the neighborhood. Prepare ahead of time and follow these safety tips to make sure your pets stay safe this Fourth of July.

Keep Pets Inside

Shelter pets from the noise and commotion of fireworks by keeping them inside in a calm, quiet environment. Shut the windows and curtains of the room, play soothing music, or distract them with treats and petting. Make sure all gates and doors are shut. Even outdoor cats should be brought inside to prevent them from running away and getting lost over the Fourth of July weekend.

Collar and Contact Info

Keep your pet’s collar on them, even while they’re inside, and make sure the contact information on it is current. This way, even if they do manage to dash out the door and are later found by someone else, the finder has a better chance of being able to get in touch with you and let you know where your pet is.

Ask Your Vet About Medications

For pets who get extremely stressed out at loud noises, you might want to talk to your vet about a medication that can help your pet stay calm or sleep through the neighborhood celebrations. Be sure to book your appointment early, as many vet clinics have limited holiday and weekend hours.

Have You Microchipped Your Pet?

If you haven’t already microchipped your pet, now is the time to do it. Greenhill scans all animals that are brought to us to see if they have a microchip with information that can help us get in touch with the owner. Your pet might manage to wriggle out of their collar, but it’s a lot harder to lose a microchip!

Check with Greenhill

If you lose your pet, or if you find an animal and you can’t get in touch with the owner, check our website or give us a call. We have many lost pets brought to us, especially after the Fourth of July, and you may find that your pet is safe and sound with us, just waiting to be reunited with you. We also post found reports on our website, so you can see if an animal matching your pet’s description has been reported as found.

Celebrating the Fourth of July can be a lot of fun—and the holiday is even better when you prepare ahead of time and make sure that your pets are safe and protected. And remember, it’s not just for the Fourth.  As the weather gets nicer and you start heading out on outdoor adventures with your pets this summer, we want to remind you about the importance of keeping your pet’s identification updated.  Please make sure your pets are properly secured and when outside have collars, tags and are microchipped. These small steps can make a HUGE difference! If your pet goes missing or you find a lost pet at any time, please call Greenhill at 541-689-1503.

Greenhill Humane Society will be open from 11 am to 6 pm on the Fourth of July.

Learn more about the importance of microchipping your pet at https://www.green-hill.org/microchipping-and-why-its-important/

Sources: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/fourth-july-safety-tips

https://www.aspca.org/news/how-have-fantastic-fourth-july-your-pets