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| Image from: keepmefromharm |
"Unintentional cruelty is something that tops the list of animal cruelty. This can be prevented by educating people and making them aware of their animal's needs" (Animal Port, 2004). One of the most common activities that pet owners do that can harm their pet is taking them along for a car ride. Of course it's fine to take Fido out for a drive when the weather is nice and irresistible. And who could pass up that glow in their eyes when they hear the car keys jingling? In Charmaine Engelsman-Robins article, "Owners Unintentionally Killing Their Own Beloved Dogs: YOU CAN HELP", she states that cranking the windows down, leaving a bowl of ice water in the car, parking in the shade, or leaving the A/C running, do not ensure safety when leaving your pet in the car. In fact, your dog can still die. The best way to prevent any harm to your pet when leaving them in the car is to leave your dog at home if you know you will have to leave them in it.
Along with the danger of leaving your dog in the car is letting your dog hang out the window. The truth is that your dog becomes susceptible to lung infections, inner ear damage, and injury from debris flying in the atmosphere when your dog sticks his head out of the window. It's best to keep your dog harnessed or in a crate during trips, and never let him ride in the bed of a truck, as an accident could send him bouncing out (Home Security Source, 2011).
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| Image from: PCCA |
Pet owners sometimes poison their pets unintentionally by giving them human medications or exposing them to household toxins. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) reports that in 2007, the top 10 claims of pet poisoning are with drug reactions (usually meant for human consumption) surfacing as number one, as well as:
- Rodenticide: used to eliminate rodents.
- Methylxathine: an ingredient usually found in chocolate.
- Plant poisoning: usually from tulips, hyacinths, poinsettias, azaleas, lilies, amaryllis, grapes, raisins, sago palms, and oleander.
- Household chemicals: cleaning supplies and toiletries.
- Metaldyhyde: found in snail bait.
- Organophosphate: found in insecticides.
- Toad poisoning
- Heavy metals: mercury, lead, iron, zinc, cobalt, and copper.
- Antifreeze
Keeping your pet away from anything that can be dangerous to them is extremely difficult. Pets love to explore and gallivant around the house and their environment and sometimes they happen to end up in places they should not be in. The best way to help keep your pet safe is to remove and secure anything that can harm them. Locking up cleaning supplies and medications or removing poisonous plants can help establish a safe environment for your pet. Your pet's safety means a lot to you as a pet owner so value it as you would for yourself.
Works Cited:
Animal Port. (2004). Animal Abuse Information. Retrieved April 3, 2013, from Animal Port: http://www.animalport.com/animal-information/animal-abuse-information.html
Engelsman-Robins, C. (2012, May 3). Owners Unintentionally Killing Their Own Beloved Dogs: YOU CAN HELP. Retrieved April 3, 2013, from Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/article/owners-unintentionally-killing-their-own-beloved-dogs-you-can-help
Home Security Source. (2011, June 28). Are You Causing Your Dog Unintentional Harm This Summer? Retrieved April 3, 2013, from Home Security Source: http://www.homesecuritysource.com/blogs/are-you-causing-your-dog-unintentional-harm-this-summer.aspx
Veterinary Pet Insurance. (n.d.). Veterinary Pet Insurance Data Reveals Well-Intended Pet Owners Unknowingly Poisoning Their Pets. Retrieved April 3, 2013, from PRNewswire: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veterinary-pet-insurance-data-reveals-well-intended-pet-owners-unknowingly-poisoning-their-pets-57029522.html
Excellent post with lots of details! When I used to live in Reston I would run to my gym and finish my workout there. My gym was in a big entertainment-plex and someone had left their dog in the car (in July!) while they decided to go to a movie. I couldn't believe the rage I had. I had to get security to call the police, who sent 2 fire trucks to free the dog. I have no idea what happened to the owner, but the firemen did tell me he was pulled from the movie (how they found him, I don't know).
ReplyDeleteI wonder: could you consider a post on ownership responsibilities and laws from the state of VA? We do have some strange laws on the books here (just see the current work of our Attorney General Cuccinelli)? What is a cat or dog owner's legal responsbilities toward their pets? What are some legal ramifications if they don't abide those laws?
This post is very informative to the common pet owner. I knew myself that you should never leave a dog in your car unattended. My belief is: if a person is uncomfortable in the car than so is the pet. Safety is always first, when it deals with life.
ReplyDeleteI never knew that tulips were dangerous to dogs, my family plants them everywhere, and having 17 acres of land for my dogs to roam is not helping either. This is very interesting and thank you for informing on the subject.