Owners have a big responsibility to keep pets safe, healthy

Pets can bring people much joy. They keep people active and social. But having a pet comes with many responsibilities and the most important obligation is safeguarding your pet from harm.

Keeping your dog on a leash is not a penalty. Having your dog on a leash is the law in most municipalities. When a dog runs at large, you can be fined or ticketed. Many cities or municipalities provide outdoor off-leash parks for dogs.

Many parks are fenced-in, while others without fencing are primarily found in low-traffic districts.

A leash can also allow you to steer your dog 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, young children or the elderly with mobility issues. You can maneuver your dog past a cyclist, keeping the rider and the pet safe. If your dog does not have a good sense of recall, a leash will keep them safe from harm.

Cat owners often debate whether to keep their pets indoors or allow them to roam outside. It has been widely accepted that keeping your cat indoors is safer and prolongs its short life. Some cat owners will claim their cat is just like wildlife and must roam freely outside. Cats are not wildlife; we have domesticated them and they deserve to be protected.

Outdoor cats are at risk of life-threatening diseases, being hit by cars or trucks, fighting with wildlife, poisons and becoming lost or stolen. Keeping them indoors can and will keep them happy and healthy. Keeping your indoor cat stimulated can be enriched with catnip toys, tall scratching posts, and spending quality time with them.

Many cat owners have installed catios, a screened-in cat patio. A catio is a structure that provides safe outdoor space but is enclosed with a screen so your cat cannot escape. Some catios are pretty significant in scale, while others may sit on a windowsill when the window and screen have been removed.

Keeping your dog or cat safe is a significant responsibility and should not be taken lightly as a pet owner. Our pets depend on us for medical care, food, mental well-being and safety. Responsible pet owners understand these obligations and accept the commitments when they bring a pet into their family.

Please be kind to animals.

Tracy Jessiman is a pet portrait artist who lives in Halifax with her husband and their three pets. She has been rescuing animals most of her life, but more intimately, animals rescued her.