Keep pets inside during the holidays. It might be nice to let the dog outside when you’re hosting a family cookout during a holiday, however it’s best to keep animals indoors. During holidays there are lots of unfamiliar sounds, people and things to cause anxiety in your pets. Give them some space inside the house to avoid the pet becoming spooked and escaping.
Keep your pet on a leash. If the pet must be outdoors, make sure the pet is on a leash at all times. Even if you normally don’t need one to walk your dog, a leash will make sure any loud sounds don’t spook your pet. Double leashes can work for added security during walks when more people and other animals are likely to be around. They even make cat leashes, so your normal outdoor cat can still go outside, with your supervision.
Make sure your backyard is properly fenced in. Dogs love to dig, and cats can jump higher than you think. If a pet is going to escape, it’s likely because your yard is not properly secured. Make sure that your dog can’t dig a hole and make sure there are no objects they can climb on to jump over the fence. The fence in the yard where you allow your pets should be very high to ensure escape is impossible.
Use proper training. Cats don’t listen to anyone, especially my cat. But the time our cat ran outside to chase another cat the stern sound of “Get back here!” was all she needed to understand that this was not the right move to make. Dogs, on the other hand, can be trained better. Teaching your dog a “stay” command will help them understand they don’t need to run during anxious moments.
We hope this month you and your family come up with a plan to keep your pet safe. If the whole family is involved, it’s even less likely you’ll ever have to worry about finding your 4-legged friend. If you need help with micro-chipping your pet please contact us, and for more pet safety tips follow us on Twitter.
