Pet Advice for Oregon Coast Travel: Keeping Doggo Safe During the Holiday

Published 07/01/26 at 8:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Florence, Oregon) – Let's face it: one of the more fun holidays of the entire year for humans is the wild spectacle of Fourth of July. However, our furry friends....not so much.

Which is why Oregon Coast Humane Society in Florence is offering a large helping of advice for travel with your little mutt and / or best pal.

Executive Director of the organization, Elizabeth Thompson said pet owners should take some extra precautions. Indeed, start ahead of time, as she warns that fireworks remain a major source of fear, anxiety, and lost pets during the holiday.

Thompson said loud explosions and crowded festivities often cause animals to panic and flee from homes, yards, or vehicles, leading to a yearly surge in missing-pet reports.

The organization advises owners to make sure pets are wearing collars with current identification and are properly microchipped, with up-to-date contact information. It also recommends keeping recent photos of pets in their usual collar, harness, and leash so they can be quickly shared if an animal goes missing.

Among other things, OCHS encourages:

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Keeping pets indoors in a quiet, secure room away from windows and using calming tools such as white noise, soft music, anxiety wraps, or veterinarian-approved medications.

Check doors, fences, and gates to prevent escapes and says pets should be left at home rather than taken to fireworks shows or crowded events.

Holiday visitors to Florence are asked to be especially cautious, as the influx of tourists can increase risks for animals, they said. Pets should always be leashed and transported in secure crates or carriers, and owners should know where the nearest veterinarian or shelter is located.

OCHS operates at 2840 Rhododendron Drive in Florence. The shelter also reminds the public that pets should never be left unattended in vehicles, even on cool days, because temperatures rise quickly.

“Even calm pets can panic at the sound of fireworks,” said OCHS Director Elizabeth Thompson. “A few simple steps can prevent heartbreak and keep your pet safe.”

Anyone who loses a pet - or finds one - should contact OCHS immediately at (541) 997-4277. The shelter also recommends posting recent photos and key details on social media to help reunite animals with their families. https://www.oregoncoasthumanesociety.org/

Now, what if you're heading somewhere else, other than Florence? Oregon Coast Beach Connection asked Thomspon: what if you lose your pet somewhere in a strange town where you know no one?

Many of her answers fell back to the previous advice.

“It is really overwhelming when a dog is lost for the owners, and adding in new terrain surely adds to their issues,” she said. “The first thing I would recommend to anyone visiting our coastal communities is to learn where the nearest shelters are beforehand. If they're already in a location, they can search 'animal shelters near me' or something similar on their phone.”

Then, again – be prepared ahead of time in other ways – including joining at least one local Facebook group.

“We're seeing tremendous success with the Florence/Siuslaw Lost and Found Pets page here as a way to reunite lost animals with their families,” she said. “Facebook and Next Door are becoming some of our best tools for reuniting families.”

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