Keeping an Animal Friendly Home
“Until we extend the circle of our compassion to all living things, we will not ourselves find peace.”–Albert Schweitzer.
Tips from Your Realtor
Keeping an animal friendly home is important if you have pets or just love animals. Making your home safe for children is the first step to making it pet safe. In addition to making your home child safe, use the tips below to further ensure that it is pet safe.
Check your home for hazards in areas your pet can reach or knock over. Some house plants and foods are poisonous to many animals. One of the most common hazards is candy dishes with chocolate or other harmful- to-animal candies. Keep these in high places or away in cabinets where your pet cannot get to them. Place all plants above your pets reaching or leaping level.
Use animal friendly cleaning products including those labeled cruelty free. Many cleaning products leave a residue or fumes harmful to both you and your pet. However your pet is usually smaller than you and may be affected even if you aren’t.
Give your pet(s) warm, dry bedding areas where they may sleep peacefully away from the hubbub of company.
Place feeding bowls filled with fresh food and water in an area in which your pet has 24 hour access.
If possible, use pet doors so your pet can access the outdoors when needed. Many patio doors and exterior doors have optional pet door add-ons. Be sure the pet door leads to a fenced safe yard.
If you must contain your pet in a smaller area in your home while you are working or away from home, please consider using child gates across the doorway to a kitchen, laundry room or bedroom. Pet carriers are made for short travel trips and should not be used to confine pets throughout a workday or for long periods of time.
Other Animal Friendly Tips:
*Spaying or neutering your pet will help control the unwanted animal population.
*Using cruelty free and animal free products – Many large name brand companies today are making a conscientious effort to promote animal welfare by making vegetable and herb based products, which are not tested on animals. For a partial list of these companies, please contact us.
*When considering the purchase of a pet, call or visit your local humane society or animal shelter.
*If you find a hurt/lost domestic or wild animal, call a local veterinarian, animal rescuer or your humane society for aid in helping the animal. If you are not a animal professional, do not approach or attempt to help a hurt animal without professional aid and advice.