How to Celebrate Easter with Your Pets

Spring has sprung and Easter is just around the corner! This popular holiday falls on a different day each year based on the Gregorian calendar, usually occurring in March or April. Easter is observed in many countries around the world including the US, where 80% of adults celebrate it. With the majority of Americans celebrating Easter, you’re bound to encounter the Easter Bunny, Easter egg hunts, and other symbols and traditions during this time of year. 

Not all Easter activities, treats and decor are pet-friendly, but there are ways to include your canine companion or feline friend in the festivities. Keep reading for ideas on how to celebrate Easter with your pets!

When it comes to Easter activities, egg hunts are almost always the first one that comes to mind. Popular with kids and the young at heart, Easter egg hunts can be enjoyed by four-legged family members too.

For a pet-friendly egg hunt, place smelly treats inside plastic eggs. Choose eggs that have holes to let the scent escape and are big enough so they can’t be accidentally swallowed. Hide the eggs around your yard or indoors and encourage your furbaby to find them. Be sure to supervise them during the hunt to avoid choking hazards and other risks.

If your dog insists on chewing the plastic eggs, simply hide the treats around your home or yard as is. This may also work better for cats. 

Easter baskets were traditionally filled with foods that were prohibited during Lent, and then brought to church to be blessed before the contents were consumed to break the Lenten fast. A more modern tradition involves children leaving baskets out at night for the Easter Bunny to fill with candy and toys. Today, Easter baskets can be filled with almost anything and gifted to family and friends.

If your furkiddo loves hamming it up for the camera, why not do an Easter photoshoot? It’s a “grrreat” way to make memories, plus it can become a fun new tradition! 

Brunch is a popular Easter tradition that you can involve your cat or dog in. Flex your cooking skills and treat your furbaby to their very own Easter meal! Whether pet-friendly pancakes, such as these by As The Bunny Hops and Blue Cross, or these “puptastic” and “meowtastic” smoothie recipes, we're sure your furry pal will dig the Easter feast!

Alternatively, you can go out for brunch at a pet-friendly restaurant with your dog in tow. Some places offer not only a special Easter brunch menu for humans but also options for canine companions. Check your local establishments to see where you and Fido can eat out.

If your pooch is extroverted, then joining an Easter parade might be right up their alley. Pet-friendly events like the Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival in New York City and the Easter Promenade in St. Augustine are “woofderful” opportunities for you and your pup to get into the spirit and don your most outrageous costumes.

Of course, you should never force your dog to dress up if they’re not into it. It’s also a good idea to brush up on their training to ensure they’re on their best behavior during the event, and remember to bring a water bottle even if the weather is nice. 

For couch “puptatoes” and introverted kitties who prefer laid-back celebrations, there’s nothing better than kicking back and watching a movie. Like any major holiday, Easter has many films dedicated to it. From kid-friendly flicks to biblical pictures, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to picking something to watch with your furry pal.

Here are some suggestions: 

• Easter Parade (1948)
• It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974)
• Hop (2011)
• The Dog Who Saved Easter (2014)
• Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade (2016)
• Peter Rabbit (2017)
• Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2021)

Holidays are always a good opportunity to unleash your creativity in the kitchen. If you plan to spend an afternoon whipping up Easter treats for friends and family, don’t forget to include your furbaby as well. 

You can put a festive twist on a recipe you make regularly by cutting the treats into Easter-themed shapes such as bunnies and eggs. Or you can try something completely new—how about Peeps for dogs? Let your little one “assist” you while you’re making them. 

Egg rolling is a traditional Easter game where eggs are rolled down hills or across lawns. In the US, the best-known egg rolling event is arguably the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, which takes place on the South Lawn of the White House every Easter Monday.

It’s easy for your dog or cat to have their own Easter egg roll activity at home. All you need is a bouncy egg-shaped toy or egg-shaped treat dispenser, and watch your furkiddo go wild! Invite your pet’s friends over for more fun! Just be sure there are enough toys for everyone.

If you’re lucky enough to live near a pet-friendly botanical garden, then visiting one over the Easter weekend is the “pawfect” way to appreciate the beauty of spring with your pup. 

Not many public gardens in the US allow dogs, but the Iowa Arboretum, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, South Carolina Botanical Garden, ​​Zilker Botanical Garden, and Oregon Garden are among those that welcome four-legged visitors on their grounds. Be sure to keep your furry friend on a leash and follow the rules so that everyone has a tail-waggin’ good time. 

If you’re religious, going to Mass is a must on Easter Sunday. Pets aren’t allowed in church, but you can watch Easter Mass at home with your furchild curled up at your feet . Churches that livestreamed their Easter Sunday service last year include the Vatican, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Cathedral of St. Andrew, and the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. 

Many churches will host Easter services online again this year. For livestream schedules and links, be sure to check your church’s website or social media.