Pet safety is an owner’s top responsibility

Owning a pet comes with responsibilities, and the most crucial obligation is safeguarding your pet from harm.

Therefore, having your dog on a leash when out in public protects your dog and keeping your cat indoors ensures their safety.

A leash is not a penalty for your dog as some dog owners may feel because they want their dog to have the freedom to explore. Having your dog on a leash is the law in most municipalities. When a dog runs at large, and not on a leash, you can be fined or ticketed. Many cities happily provide outdoor off-leash parks for dogs. Many parks are fenced in, while others without fencing are found in low-traffic districts.

A leash can also allow you to steer your dog and insulate them from dangers such as broken glass, street potholes, and sewer grates. While on a leash, you can also help direct your dog away from unfriendly dogs, tiny children or the elderly. You can maneuver your dog past a cyclist, thereby keeping both the rider and pet safe. If your dog does not have any sense of recall, a leash will keep them safe from harm.

Cat owners often debate about whether to restrict a pet to indoors or allow them the freedom to roam outside. It is widely accepted that keeping your cat indoors is safer and prolongs their short life. Some cat owners will claim their cat is just like wildlife and it needs to roam freely outside. Cats are not wildlife; we have domesticated them and they deserve to be protected.

Outdoor cats are at risk of being hit by vehicles, lifethreatening disease, fighting, poisons and becoming lost or stolen. Keeping your indoor cat stimulated with catnip toys and tall scratching posts will also keep them happy and healthy.

You may want to consider installing an outdoor catio to keep your cat safe. A catio is a structure that provides outdoor space, but it is enclosed with a screen so your cat cannot escape. Some catios are significant in scale, while others may sit on a windowsill with the window removed.

Keeping your dog or cat safe is your responsibility as a pet owner. Our pets depend on us for food, medical care, happiness and above all, safety. Responsible pet owners understand the obligations and commitments they accept when they bring a pet into their family. Allow your pet to thrive under your care and attention.

Please be kind to animals.