Estimates have the number of dogs and cats in North America at 58,000,000 and 62,000,000, respectively, and it’s a painful truth that thousands of them are victims of accidental drownings annually. Due to the fact that many people do not report these drownings, there is no way to know exactly how many pets actually die this way. Although, 99 % of dogs can swim, we have a false sense of security when we see our dogs running and jumping in and out of the water at the lake or our back yard pool. A significant percentage of dogs and even some cats are only able to swim a little while before they become fatigued. With this in mind, these animals go into a panic state when they are unable to quickly find a way to get their paws on solid ground. This panic is what causes them to drown. But it is more than just a problem for pets, for loving pet parents will selflessly and without hesitation dive into a frozen lake or rapidly flowing river in an attempt to rescue their animal.
How can we prevent our pet from suffering this horrible fate? Here are a few valuable tips:
1. Never take it for granted that your dog can swim.
2. Keep a close eye on your dog especially if he or she is older. They cannot swim quite as long or as far as they were once able to.
3. Never toss a cat or a dog into the water. They will panic from the initial shock.
4. Obtain a pet life jacket or one of the canine flotation devices (CPD) for your pet. Ensure that they are wearing the device whenever they are close to the water. It is not uncommon for a pet to fall off of a moving watercraft or dock and not be seen.
5. Things like solar blankets and pool covers appear to be a solid surface for your pet. Remove them whenever possible when your pets are around the pool.
6. Install a pet safety gate near the pool area.
7. Check to ensure that your pet does not have an entry into your neighbor’s pool area.
8. Get a pool alarm for your pool or pond.
9. Keep your pet away from rapidly flowing water.
10. Make sure your pet stays away from frozen lakes and rivers.
Seeing your pet drown and the awful guilt that is associated with it can be overwhelming and very difficult or impossible to recover from. I strongly encourage you to have a look around your property for obvious water hazards. Whether it is summer or winter, you need to drown proof your home as well as your vacation property NOW. If your pet is going to be anywhere near water, make sure they are wearing a canine floatation device or pet life jacket.
Jake writes articles on the dog life jacket and about how to find a designer dog life jacket on the internet.
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