HomeOur friends at Pet Sitters International know that not many pet owners have the luxury of being able to keep their pets under watch all the time. There are a number of steps that pet owners can take to help ensure pets are safe around the home when pet owners are not there.
1. Don’t be trashy. Dogs and cats alike seem to love the smell, taste and texture of trash, and
they will go out of their way to play in that arena while you’re away. Many things in our trash that
may seem benign to us can be dangerous to pets, including chicken bones, which are choking
hazards because of their brittle nature. Take all the trash outside when you leave for any length
of time, or place trashcans out of your pet’s reach.
2. Do sweat the small stuff. Remove small toys, string and other choking hazards such as
rubber bands from your pet’s area in your home. They may love these things as toys, but
the risk of choking is high. Also put away cat toys with strings when you will not be there to
supervise the play. Consider, too, if your pet’s toys are sized appropriately. A ball meant for a
smaller animal can lodge within a larger one’s throat.
3. Don’t count on nine lives. Cats aren’t always as nimble footed and self sufficient as legend
has it. Check for places where they can become stuck, such as behind the refrigerator or in
fireplace openings, and seal up those openings. Close all toilet lids before you leave the house.
4. Do call for backup when you’re away. Pets enjoy their routines, and if you’re going to be
away for an extended period of time, or if you’re going to be away at times of the day when
you’re usually at home with your pet, 417 Pet Sitting can help your pet stick to its
schedule. It is reassuring to the pet, and can help alleviate some of the mischievous exploring
that often leads to disaster. A good pet sitter knows how to think like a pet and can quickly scan
your pet’s environment for known dangers.
5. Don’t forget to include pets in your disaster plan. Natural disasters such as hurricanes and
floods, as well as unforeseen man-made disasters like chemical spills, can close off a residential
area in short order. The key is to be prepared as best as you can and it only takes a small amount
of preparation.
You should be able to pass the “five-minute preparedness test,” meaning in five minutes or
fewer, you should be able to get your pets and their emergency kit out of your home.