Safety first (and always)

Over the years that I’ve owned and taken of care of other people’s pets I’ve learned a lot of things about safety measures we can take to keep them safe.  Some things are quite obvious but to a first time pet owner removing your dog’s collar when in a crate may not seem so obvious, for example.

Pet stores offer a wide variety of products that serve many purposes safety-wise such as reflective leashes and collars, warm coats and boots to keep them safe from the weather and elements including road salt, light up collars and collar tags, muzzles – yes these can be used for their safety and ours, and so on.

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they may look like aliens but these are light-up dog collars

Unfortunately I know of someone who was struck by a vehicle while walking on a rural road on a dark night.  While I do most of my dog-walking during the daytime hours I found the need to make myself feel safer and more visible while walking some dogs on a rural road.  On a foggy day or other weather that has poor visibility I noticed cars passing by didn’t seem to see me as well until the last minute.  The dogs have bright-coloured harnesses and leashes so I invested in a reflective and light-up vest that I can wear over any coat or other outerwear.  I walk against the traffic so I can make eye contact with the drivers and am able to see if they are paying attention and notice me.  If I think a driver has not seen me I can move the dogs and myself further away from the road, which unfortunately means into the ditch, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.  I will always smile or wave thanks to any car that notices and gives me a bit of a berth if they can.  It is just common courtesy I think but am surprised how many cars do not move over even an inch.  The same courtesy should be given to anyone walking/running/pulled over or even putting out their garbage!!

 

Putting a collar and identification tag on  your pet can help them safely find their way home if ever lost.  Microchipping is also a good option, however, if your pet is found wandering the chances of a person having a microchip scanner in their back pocket are pretty slim so I.D. tags work instantly if you have the correct & updated contact information on them.   There are also GPS tracking collar tags available now.  I don’t know much about these so you should do your research, however, it is a great use of modern technology that can help keep your pets safe!

Our pets are our family so we want to keep them safe and away from any harm.  Consider which concerns are most likely to affect your pets’ safety and invest in the tools to keep them safe.   For example if you have a dog who tends to run off and wander spending some money on a GPS collar tag might be a great idea to help get them back.  If you walk your dog at night any light up or reflective items will make you both more visible.  I hate to hear stories of accidents or tragedies concerning pets especially when it could have been preventable.  Let’s keep ourselves and our pets safe!

 

Fairwell Friend

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love animals, especially dogs.  There is just something so special about a creature who pretty much spends their life wanting to please you, wanting your love and attention and in return giving unconditional love.  There is nothing the same as the greeting you get from a dog when you get home, even if you were only gone for five minutes.  In the event of a natural disaster I would definitely be that person standing on the roof of my house with all my pets refusing to leave them behind.

Saying goodbye to our pets is never easy.  In my own life I’ve had to say goodbye to two family dogs, two family cats and one dog of my own.  All were a different yet difficult experience.  The passing of my own dog was the complete opposite of how I imagined it would go and it was devastating.  I was recently invited to be present with someone who was saying goodbye to his dog.  I knew the dog well and loved him like my own.  I was honoured to be asked to be there with him and his owner.  He was a good dog and he lived a good, long, happy life.  His owner made the excruciatingly difficult decision to help his dog in his time of need.  A medical issue he had all his life, that had been well-managed and taken care of, had surfaced again.  Combined with his age and other medical issues the owner considered the dog’s quality of life as the most important thing and made the most compassionate decision we have to make as pet owners.  For years the owner knew he would have to make this decision as he never wanted to see his dog suffer.  He also knew how he wanted the entire situation to go – at home, peacefully in his own comfy dog bed.  And that is how it went.  And it was so peaceful.  It was a very different experience for me, yet again, and I only hope I can make that decision for my remaining and future pets.  I am very fortunate and grateful for the experience and to be included.  Thank you.

I know many people who have loved and lost pets and never wanted to experience that feeling of loss again and therefore refused to get another pet.  As much as the loss hurts, the love our pets give far outweighs the loss in my eyes and my heart and I cannot imagine my life without any pets in it.  When the hurt is lessened by time and healed a little by the good and even the bad memories, hopefully another dog will be able to share a good, long, happy life with you.  Now I’m going to find some kleenex and my dogs to snuggle.

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