PAWS Academy: How to Keep Pets Safe

Written by Madi Cook, PAWS Education Intern

PAWS Academy Has Returned!

The third episode of PAWS Academy is here! This week we go over pet safety procedures and address more in depth how to be a responsible pet owner.

Pets Rely on Humans

There are many dangers your pet can face if left alone. Wild animals, cars, disease, extreme weather, stray animals and more are all reasons your pet should not be on their own. It is beneficial to remember that dogs and cats were bred to be companions to humans and serve a part in a give and take relationship. With this in mind, the reason why pets depend on us is revealed.

Basic Safety Protocol

There are a few basic steps all pet owners should take to guarantee that their pet carries the information for the identification and return of them if they get lost. Information like the pet’s name, owner’s name and a number to contact can be worn by the pet on an ID tag which is fixed to a collar. This simple step can make a world’s difference if your pet escapes their home or gets lost in a public space. In the case that your pet loses their collar, a backup plan in necessary.

A microchip solves this issue seamlessly. By inserting a rice grain sized microchip into your pet your pet can be identified by any shelter or veterinarian. The microchip holds a unique identification number that corresponds with your family’s name, address, and phone number which is found through the search of a database. If you are worried about your pet being in pain from this microchip, don’t fret because insertion is equivalent to any other vaccination your pet receives regularly.

Keeping Your Pet Dog Safe Outdoors

Pets require outdoor time to exercise, play, use the bathroom and to stimulate their senses. If your dog has access to a yard it should have a secure fence to prevent your pet from escaping. If your pet dog is new to your family, we recommend observing your dog in your yard to check the safety of it. Do not underestimate your pet’s capability, just because a fence looks secure does not mean it is. Dogs can dig under, jump over and break through fences given time or determination. It is crucial to follow the steps above as a baseline measure in case other precautions fail. When you take your pet dog outside of your home a collar or harness should be used with a leash.

Keeping Your Pet Cat Safe Outdoors

Similarly to pet dogs, cats also should be able to enjoy the outdoors safely. And like dogs, your pet cat can be leash trained and taken on walks. However, it is important to note that not all cats enjoy being walked with a harness and leash. If your pet cat rejects the leash and harness, there are other ways for them to get outdoor time. One way we suggest is by making or purchasing an enclosed space for them to venture outside in. A cat patio, or catio, is a way to allow your cat to go outdoors without a leash and harness safely. For more information on catios click here. This may not be an option if you do not have an outdoor space to build an enclosure in and that is okay! Creating a cat friendly space by a window is another alternative. Either by placing a cat tree or other surface for your cat to safely lay or sit on that allows them to view the outdoors from inside gives them another space to observe and broadens their world.

Another factor to consider with pet cats is their potential to harm the safety of other animals. Birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians fall victim to outdoor cats in billions annually. The impact pet cats make is so severe that the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers domestic cats one of the worst non-native invasive species of the world. By keeping your cat safe outdoors you are also reducing the harm to many other animals.

 

This Week’s Activities

To test pet safety vocabulary knowledge and to help a lost pet find their way home, you can find activities here.

This Week’s Challenge

This week, we challenge you to brainstorm a way to keep pet cats safe outdoors. Pet cats tend to be more challenging to manage in an outdoor setting, but they deserve to enjoy the outdoors too. Draw a picture of your invention and maybe someday it will become a product used by many!

Share With Us!

We would love to see your invention and welcome you to share it by commenting a picture or video on this week’s episode at paws.org/PAWSAcademy!

If you missed last week’s episode click here to check it out and learn about how pets depend on humans and the eight basic needs of all pets. Tune in next Wednesday at 12 p.m. PT for the fourth PAWS Academy video and blog post about Earth Day and continue to discover how you can make a difference in animals’ lives!

Learn more at paws.org/PAWSAcademy. If you have any questions or suggestions you can reach us at [email protected].

 

 

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