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You wish you could take your pet with you everywhere, but
unfortunately, thatโs not how the world works. When you go to
work for the day, you may have to leave your pet alone at home.
The thought of leaving your furry friends all alone isnโt
pleasing, but there are some steps you can take to help ensure
their safety while youโre away. Following these steps to make
sure your pets are safe when youโre not home will definitely put
you more at ease:
-
Have enough food and water kept out for your
pet
Before you leave your home for work in the morning, make sure
your petโs food and water bowls are filled. Also, always make
sure that they are kept in an easily accessible location. You
donโt want to keep your pet hungry for the whole day. Not only
is this unhealthy for them, they will become extremely anxious
when they are hungry and left unfed. This often leads to them
acting out in ways which are harmful for themselves and cause
damage to your house as well.
-
Make sure your home temperature is moderate throughout
the day
If you often have to leave your pet alone, consider buying a
thermostat for your home, if you donโt already have one. Itโs
important that your home doesnโt get too hot or too cold,
especially if you live in an area with extreme temperatures
during summers and winters. You need to make sure that your pet
spends their day in a safe and comfortable environment.
-
Have security cameras installed at home
Having a CCTV camera installed in your home is one of the best
to ensure not just the safety and security of your pet, but
your entire house as well. These are your eyes at home when
youโre not around. They give you the peace of mind you deserve
when you leave your canines and felines at home all alone.
Plus, if anything goes wrong, you will be notified immediately
so you can always call 911 or a neighbor for help.
-
Keep away items which may be dangerous for your
pet
Certain items in your house may not be safe for your pet. For
instance, many human foods arenโt meant for pets, or sharp
objects such as knives and blades. Make sure to keep these away
from their reach. Also, make sure that you keep your bins in an
enclosed space, such as under the sink inside a cabinet.
-
Attach a GPS device to your petโs collar
To make sure that you know where your pet is at all times, you
can have a GPS device attached to their collar. This way, even
if they wander off somewhere, you always know where you can
find them.
High-Rise Safety
Living the high-rise lifestyle? There are probably many safety
and comfort precautions you have taken to make sure that your pet
is able to enjoy it with you, like taking them outside multiples
times a day, being sure they get lots of exercise, and perhaps
setting up an inside potty pad for when you're gone a long time.
But, when it comes to your balcony, there are some extra steps
you need to take to make sure your fuzzy friend stays in good
spirits and good health.
At first glance, your balcony may look like a fantastic hangout
spot to take your dog or cat. After all, it's a great way for you
to get some fresh air, enjoy the breeze, and take in the view.
Why wouldn't your pet want to be out there with you?
The truth is, as much as your four-legged buddy may want to be by
your side when you're hanging out on the balcony, it may not
always be the wisest decision to let them go out with you,
especially when they are not being carefully attended. The
reality of it is that a balcony can be a very dangerous place for
your cat or dog. Not only do they risk falling down, they might
also ingest toxic house plants or get burned by a hot grill.
Does that mean your balcony should be off limits? Let's take a
closer look so you can decide for yourself.
#1 Falling Hazards
Obviously, your dog or cat's biggest threat on the balcony is the
risk of them falling. For dogs, the main thing you have to look
for is the height of your handrail (it should be a minimum of
3-feet in height) and then the spacing of the bannisters around
the balcony.
If your dog can fit their head through, they can get stuck. If
they can fit their entire body through, you have a serious
falling hazard! Hopefully your banisters will be spaced close
enough together that your dog cannot fit through them, whether on
purpose or on accident. Then the next thing to look to is the
height of your balcony. Can your dog put his front feet up? If
not, your balcony has a low falling risk for them.
However, if your dog can put their feet up, it's up to you to
judge the sturdiness of the railings and how likely or capable
your dog may be of jumping up. A big, energetic dog and a short
railing won't mix well and it can pose a big threat to your pet's
safety.
On the other hand, a cat is much more likely to do so, even with
proper boundaries and fixing, since they can jump up and sit on
the railing. In fact, you practically can't prevent your cat from
making the hand rail into their favorite hangout.
No matter how graceful your cat may be, you should definitely
keep them away from your balcony considering the falling hazard.
It only takes a gust of wind, a small misstep, or something to
startle them and it can cause serious injury, or worse.
It has actually become such a common problem that vets have named
it "high rise syndrome". Over a four-year period, one study
looked at 119 cats that had fallen from high rises. Of those, 97%
survived but 46% were faced with fractured limbs and many more
sustained serious injuries. Even if you live on the second floor,
your balcony may not be a good place for your cat to hang out.
#2 Escape Hazards
Maybe your pet can get out of and away from your balcony safely,
but many vets agree that this is the real threat behind a balcony
and one of the major reasons why your pet should not be allowed
to hang out on it, especially unattended.
If your pet gets out of it (whether on purpose or on accident),
they will face injuries like broken bones, skin abrasions, and
damage to their internal organs. They might also experience
facial trauma to their nose and teeth, broken jaws, split
palates, and soft-tissue sprains. Regardless of whether or not
they are injured, however, they face another big threat: being
outside unattended.
Your pet is likely to run away and get lost, which puts them at
an even bigger risk of being hurt or injured, especially if you
live near a busy area. Your pet's ability to get away from your
balcony is what makes it so dangerous. Once they get away from
the balcony, you have no control over what might come into
contact with them or what they may ingest.
#3 Burns & Injuries
Everyone likes to hangout on the balcony and have a good time.
Maybe you want to invite your pet to hang out with you during
your nighttime barbecue or cookout, which seems innocent enough,
but it's really just asking for trouble. While you might be able
to get away with this in a large backyard, even on a larger
balcony, your pet is going to end up somewhere near the grill.
If the grill were to tip, or maybe if your pet causes it to tip,
they are likely to be injured or burned as a result. Hot food,
glasses, dishes, and even furniture can also be a threat to your
pet's safety, especially considering that everyone will be moving
around and your pet can quickly become a tripping hazard that
causes the accident to begin with.
#4 Plants & Insect Threats
Do you keep house plants on your balcony? If you do, those can be
pose a choking or toxicity hazard. The best thing to do is make
sure that you aren't keeping any plants that may be dangerous to
your pet if ingested, just in case they get to them by accident.
Even if you have checked that your plants are pet safe, there is
another aspect that few high rise residents consider: insects.
There are all sorts of poisonous and biting insects every where
in the world, and there is no doubt that some exist around your
balcony. If you do let your pet onto your balcony, where insects
are likely to be attracted to (especially if you have plants), be
certain that your pet is immunized.
Should Your Pet Be On The Balcony?
With all of this information in mind, it's really up to you to
decide whether or not your pet should be allowed outside onto the
balcony. In general, you should only ever do so with constant
supervision and, of course, take all of the safety precautions
you can before letting them out.
By taking these extra steps, you can keep your pet safe.
