Blog

It’s generally best to set up the tree so your cat can’t get to it at all. With dogs, you can usually block off a tree with a fold-up children’s play yard or a canine exercise pen, but a normal cat will laugh at so feeble an attempt to contain him. Instead, set up the tree in a room with doors you can close, choosing, say, a formal living room over a more open family room, so it’s easy to deny access to the tree when you’re not around. You could also try making a “moat” of foil around the…

Most dog bites happen to children. There are a variety of reasons for this: Children often don’t know how to interact properly with dogs, and adults often fail to adequately supervise such interactions. In addition, a dog who has limited or negative experience with children may be anxious and defensive around them, which can lead to a bite. All of this adds up to a potentially dangerous situation for both the child and the dog. It is never OK to force a dog to tolerate inappropriate behavior (rough petting, pulling the dog’s ears, grabbing his tail) from a child; at…

1. Open Flames Keep your pet away from anything that burns, including fireplaces, candles, wood-burning stoves and space heaters. The obvious danger is that flames can singe or set fire to a pet’s fur, but they’re also at risk for smoke inhalation. Some pets are attracted to the warmth and flickers of a fire, so always monitor your animal when they’re in a room with an open flame. 2. Chemical Poisoning Common winter chemicals like ice-melting salts, windshield wiper fluids and antifreeze can be deadly for cats and dogs. Methanol and ethylene glycol, the toxic ingredients in windshield wiper fluid…