How To Pet-proof Your New Home

Home is a place where every life should be safe and protected from potential threats. When family members can’t take steps to protect themselves, it is up to those who can to ensure their safety. For many, pets are considered a part of the family, and as with infants or small children, they must be protected from things that can harm them.The best way to do that is to pet-proof your home.

When pet-proofing one’s home and yard, it is important to look at items from a pet’s standpoint and consider what things they are likely to play with, chew, or otherwise get into. If these items can hurt or even kill, then they should be removed or relocated into an area that the animal cannot access. Pet-proofing a home can take time and even some research so that it is done properly. Pet owners should also take into consideration the damage that a pet can cause to their personal belongings and take steps to prevent that as well. Ideally, pet-proofing should occur before bringing a new pet home or moving into a new home; however, it can be done at any given time.

Bathrooms and Laundry Rooms

* Place any medications into a medicine cabinet and keep it closed.
* Close the doors to the washing machine and dryer when not in use.
* Check inside the washing machine and dryer before starting, particularly if it was left open and unattended.
* Store laundry and bathroom cleaners and other chemicals inside of a cabinet. If a pet can nudge open a cabinet, use child locks or higher cabinets.
* Close the lid to the toilet when not in use.

Living Rooms

* Move or cover cords and electrical wires so that they are not easily reached or cannot be chewed on.
* Never leave candles unattended.
* Place a fire screen in front of fireplaces that are in use.
* Keep a toy chest for children’s toys and put them away when they are not being played with.
* Properly dispose of old batteries and keep all others in a closed drawer or cabinet.
* Check what plants are and are not poisonous to the type of pet in the home. Only purchase plants that are not toxic.


Kitchens

* Only use garbage cans with secure lids, and ensure that they are closed at all times.
* Keep cleaners locked away in a cabinet with childproof locks.
* Block access to small spaces that lead behind the refrigerator or other appliances.
* Put food in covered containers instead of leaving it exposed on a counter or table.
* Keep utensils in a closed drawer, and push breakable china back on counters where it cannot easily be knocked down and broken.
* Consider installing a safety gate to keep pets out of the kitchen while cooking.

Bedrooms

* Keep windows closed, particularly on the upper floors, to prevent pets from falling out.
* Check that all windows have screens that are secure and in good condition.
* Place mothballs in a location where they cannot be reached. If there are cats, keep the mothballs in a container.
* Use containers or jewelry boxes to store jewelry or hairpins.
* Cover cords or keep them out of reach.
* Check closets and drawers before closing them to ensure that kittens or other small pets are not hiding inside.

Garages and Basements

* Store screws and nuts in jars with lids.
* Install cabinets to store chemicals, and keep them closed when not in use.
* Verify the safety of any plants kept in the room.
* Regularly check the floor of the garage for spilled or leaked antifreeze. Clean thoroughly as soon as possible.
* Always check for cats or kittens in the car engine by banging on the hood prior to starting the car.
* Unplug electrical tools and store them where they can’t fall.



Yard

* Install a fence around the yard to keep stray animals out and pets in.
* Remove poisonous plants from the yard, and check with a knowledgeable nursery before planting anything new.
* Put a barrier around gardens to keep pets out.
* Never leave pets alone when a fire pit is in use.
* Add fencing around pools to keep unaccompanied pets away.
* Use an enclosed shed to store chemicals, or keep them in a cabinet in the garage.
* Consider creating a fenced-off area specifically for a dog to play in when outdoors.