ANIMAL HOUSE
ENSURE YOUR SPACE IS SAFE FOR FURRY ROOMMATES WITH THESE SMART TIPS FOR PET-PROOFING YOUR HOME.
STORE HUMAN FOOD OUT OF REACH.
Any human food, especially toxic foods such as chocolate and grapes/raisins, should be kept in airtight containers far away from your crafty kitty or canine.
SECURELY SHUT GARBAGE AND COMPOST BINS.
It’s no secret that animals, especially mutts, like to rummage through trash. Already-toxic foods continue to pose a risk after they’ve been tossed, and any food can become unsafe once it develops mold. Keep your pet out of harm’s way by making scraps inaccessible.
LOCK UP MEDICATIONS.
That goes for both human and animal varieties! Prescription pills and even over-the-counter stuff, such as painkillers and nutritional supplements, may cause harm to household creatures. And your pets can overdose on their own meds, too. Guarantee everyone’s safety with a medicine box that has a lock or at least a latching lid.
CLOSE YOUR DISHWASHER.
An unassuming appliance, the dishwasher can still lead to cuts and other injuries. Your doggo (or cat) will likely try to lick dirty dishes—but it doesn’t know the difference between a spoon and a sharp knife, so keep that door clicked shut!
PROTECT STOVETOPS.
Do you let your cat on the countertops? Have a pooch who likes to jump up on them? Then stovetops, especially electric ones, pose a threat to your pet’s paws. Provide a barrier, such as an adhesive stove guard, to decrease the risk of burning.
STOW SHARP UTENSILS.
When a sharp kitchen tool is coated in good-smelling ingredients, cats and dogs can’t help themselves. Tuck them away in a caddy while using them so they won’t fall on the floor or get sniffed out by countertop-surfing critters.
PACK AWAY CLEANERS, DISINFECTANTS, ETC.
Countertop cleaning products, oven cleaner, hand sanitizer and bleach all do damage to Fido’s and Whiskers’ esophagus and stomach. A simple child lock does the trick when stowing cleaning products. You might even consider investing in nontoxic cleaners exclusively.