Creating a safe space for your furry friends
“To err is human, to forgive canine”—one of the compiled quotes in Jon Winokur’s 1991 book “Mondo Canine”—is something animal lovers can relate to. But when erring means accidentally injuring your pet dog (or cat) because you failed to take precautions to keep him safe inside your house, it might be unforgivable this time.
Always keep in mind that pets consider all areas in your house as playgrounds where they can destroy things or ingest something that can harm them. So, let’s consider a list of things that will help in pet-proofing your house to avoid untoward incidents.
BE AWARE OF KITCHEN HAZARDS
Pets love your kitchen for obvious reasons so you should keep your garbage in containers that your pets won’t be able to open. Other harmful objects like cleaning materials and sharp kitchen items should be kept in a secure place, too.
DINING AREA ALERT
Food that you leave on your dining table may be toxic for your pets (like chocolates and nuts). It’s best to use pet-proof food containers instead of leaving food exposed and within your pets’ reach.
LIVING ROOM SAFETY
Here’s an area in your house where you spend most of your time with family members and your pets. Usually, most of the wires and cables are situated in the living room and since pets have a tendency to gnaw on them, it pays to regularly check for frayed wires to avoid injuring your pets and causing an electrical fire. Zip ties can also be used to secure cables and wires to prevent pets from getting entangled in them. As for the sofa, choose fabrics that are easy to clean and resistant to scratches and stains.
BEDROOM ITEMS
If your pets are allowed in your bedroom, make sure to store small items that your pets might play with and eventually ingest. Earrings, hair clips and even your hypertension medication are some of the things in the bedroom that you should keep away from your pets.
BATHROOM MISHAPS
When a pet enters your bathroom, expect to see a roll of toilet paper on the floor along with your body scrub ball and probably your toothbrush. Though buying a pet-proof toilet paper holder and keeping other items in a container might prevent your pet from wreaking havoc inside your bathroom, simply keeping your bathroom door closed at all times is always the best option.
POOLWARNING
Sure, owning a pool is cool, but if you have pets it could be risky if you let them out without supervision. Always keep an eye on them.
It’s always fun to play with your pets or simply be with them at home after a stressful day. But you should also consider what they are capable of doing at home when you’re not around or when you’re with them but are too relaxed to pay attention to their antics.