Those of us with children will do anything to keep them safe at school and at home, so it should make sense that we want the same thing for our four-footed friends.
Dogs, especially, are curious and tend to get into things, so it's important to make sure your home is safe for the entire family.
This includes the family dog, cat, or other winged or multi-footed creature in the house.
Making simple changes to your home and lifestyle, though, can guarantee a safe existence for your dog, cat, or other winged or multi-footed creature in your home.
That said, here are a few guidelines to consider when planning home safety for pets.
Make sure the kids know what to do as well.
Everybody should look after each other.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind When we see something, we may tend to make a grab for it.
This goes for pets as well.
If a dog sees a bit of food dropped on the kitchen floor, you can bet he's going to lap it up before you get a chance to clean.
If you're eating chocolate, you definitely don't want to leave any out where a dog can get to it.
You should be very mindful of food that is left out - it needs to be out of reach or, even better, put away when you're not eating.
What then, you may ask, do you do about garbage? A dog or cat may see you scraping leftovers into a bin and make a dive for it later.
You may want to keep kitchen garbage in a can with a lid a pet can't easily nose open, or else keep all garbage in cupboard space underneath the sink.
If you collect small plastic bags from the grocery store, use them to secure food that's bad for pets and double-knot the handles.
A Pet Proof Bathroom If you do not want your pet dipping into the toilet bowl for a drink (to be sure the commode is not exactly the cleanest source for water), make sure everybody keeps the lid down at all times.
In doing this, though, you should always check that your pet has a handy source for getting water when he/she is alone.
Condition your pet to go to its bowl for water.
If you take medication, it can definitely be harmful to pets if swallowed.
Never leave a pill out in the open - this includes vitamins and supplements - where a pet can easily jump or stretch upward to nab it.
Keep all medication bottles in a medicine chest or shelf, and use child-proof lids to protect your prescriptions.
Know the Boundaries You wouldn't set a toddler free outside where he could run out into the street, would you? The same goes for a dog or cat.
When it's time to go outside, your pet may be so excited that he'll bound away once the door opens.
You need to set firmly with your pet that he/she stays close to you when leaving the house.
That way you can gauge traffic and other conditions so you pet isn't hurt.
When your home becomes a safe environment for your pets, your dog or cat will enjoy a long life in a happy house.
Keep an eye on them, and on everything that poses a danger to them.