Photo Courtesy of the APBF
Pets are abundant in Charlotte and chances are you're part of the 62% of people in our country that own a pet. Whether it be long-haired or short, finned, feathered or even poisonous... (eeek), animals continue to cast their mesmerizing spell on the hearts and minds of millions of people across the country and probably a Charlotte neighborhood near you.
Most people however, have no idea how important it is to take even the smallest steps in pet-proofing their house. In 2010 the ASPCA reported over 140,000 cases of pets that were exposed to toxic substances or hazardous things in their own homes. Most of those cases could have been prevented with some simple steps.
One of the easiest things to do is called an "All-Fours Inspection". You will simply inspect areas of your home at ground level as your pet would see it. This probably sounds ridiculous, but if your pets safety is truly a priority for you, your humility probably comes second.
By just looking around your home at ground level you can discover:
- choking
- electrocution
- suffocation hazards that you may have otherwise never noticed.
- Experts also advise that you keep window cords short as to avoid animals chewing and choking on them as well as unplug or cover wires and electrical cords to prevent electrical injuries.
Feeding your furry friend table scraps is a common bad habit for pet owners, but some human foods can actually cause real harm to your pet. The ASPCA has a list of prohibited foods on their website that include:
- alcoholic beverages
- avocado
- chocolate (all forms)
- coffee (all forms)
- fatty foods
- macadamia nuts
- moldy or spoiled foods
- onions
- onion powder
- raisins and grapes
- salt
- yeast dough
- garlic
- products sweetened with xylitol.
Sorry, no birthday cake for Fido!
Finally, make sure your plants are pet friendly or completely out of reach. The ASPCA has a list of common dangerous plants on their website but some of the most comon include:
- lilies,
- amaryllis
- poinsettia
- mums
- aloe vera
There are countless more opportunities to improve your pets safety but if you take just a few minutes to look over the three suggestions provided you could potentially remove a huge risk to your beloved pet and simultaneously reduce risk or injury to your child. We all love our pets and want to make sure they are as safe and protected as we are.
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