10 Simple Steps to Keep Your Pets Safe
Celebrated annually, October is National Animal Safety & Protection Month, an opportunity to checklist the top ten items that keep your beloved companion animal healthy and safe. Follow these simple steps and you will undoubtedly be rewarded by unconditional love and affection.
- Keep all pets up-to-date on their immunizations and vet checkups.
- Spay and neuter your pets.
- Know your pet. Be aware of any behavioral changes that might indicate signs of illness or pain.
- Don’t feed your pet table scraps. This leads to obesity and many “human” foods can make your pet ill.
- Ensure your pets can be easily found and returned if they become lost. Your dog should wear a collar with ID tags, and both dogs and cats should be microchipped.
- Check your pet’s collar regularly to make sure it is not too big or too small.
- Make sure that your pets cannot come into contact with poisons, toxins, or choking hazards in and around your home.
- Learn basic animal first aid and download the American Red Cross Pet First Aid App. Caring for your pet at home can prevent a minor injury from becoming more severe, but always call your vet if you are unsure what to do.
- Sign up today for a free Smart911 account online. It includes the ability to list and upload photos of all family members, including pets, to inform first responders in the case of an emergency.
- Have an escape plan in place if you need to evacuate your family and your pets quickly because of an emergency situation such as a fire, flood, tornado, hurricane, or earthquake.
