Fifty-eight million dogs and sixty-two million cats are thought to exist in North America and most unfortunately, every year thousands of them will drown needlessly. 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. Since 99% of all dogs are able to swim, we typically are not concerned when our dogs are playing at the water’s edge at the lake or around our swimming pool. Dogs, and even some cats, grow tired after swimming short distances in water. When they are not able to find purchase anywhere with their paws, a debilitating panic sets in quickly, and this is what will cause them to drown. Our beloved pets are not the only victims of drowning, devoted pet owners will risk their own lives to go after their animals after they have fallen into a frozen lake or a swiftly flowing river.
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 aging pet. They cannot swim as long or as far as they once did.
3. Never toss a cat or a dog into the water. They will panic from the initial shock.
4. Obtain a canine flotation device (CFD) or a pet life jacket for your pet. Ensure that they are wearing the device whenever they are close to the water. There are many times that a pet has fallen of a dock or moving boat without anyone knowing.
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. Install a pool alarm for a pond or your pool.
9. Don’t let your pet play or walk near fast 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.