Is Your Garage a Pet Hazard?

I've been unable to get my mind off a tragedy of a pet cat having to be destroyed due to an accident that happened in a garage. It was a very unlikely scenario and totally unexpected, but it happened nonetheless. A cat, a three legged one at that, found her way onto the garage door when it was open and was all but crushed when the door was closed with the automatic door button. When the cat's companion kept fussing, the owner at first thought the cat just wanted out, until she looked to where the cat kept staring. To her horror, the owner discovered her beloved pet had been caught for about an hour before being found-still alive.

Neither cat had ever before ventured onto the garage door, and, in fact, the owner is not sure how this cat managed to do so this time. Who would have thought such a thing could happen? Not me. Many times we've let our cat into the garage to prowl around. I shudder now. How many times do tragedies occur in the garage area, and how can these be prevented?

The first thing we, as responsible pet owners, can keep in mind is that the garage is not necessarily a safe place for our pets. Cats, especially, find more places to explore, more places to hide-including car engines, cabinets that may be left open but later closed and locked, even jumping onto the unsafe railings or the garage door.

Garages are often storage areas for dangerous chemicals (rat or mouse poisons and/or traps) and appliances (saws, knives, rakes). Pets and poisons do not go together. If you store such items on the floor or on easily accessible surfaces-keeping in mind that not much is beyond the ability of an agile cat-do not allow your pet into the garage.

Most garages are unheated, uncooled and many uninsulated. In the winter temperatures inside a garage will match outside temperatures. A space heater is not the answer as it can be knocked over, causing fire. In the summers, temperatures can soar far beyond the temperatures outside. If your dog or cat and/or other pet is left untended for long periods of time in a garage, they can quite literally cook in the summer and freeze in the winter without special consideration and protection.

Not all tragedies such as this one can be prevented, but vigilance can help. If your pets are allowed into the garage, make sure you know where they are before opening that garage door, starting the car, backing out. Make sure your pets are safe from projects you may be working on that require tools or other items that might be lethal in certain situations.

Think like your dog or cat. What seems impossible to you, might seem a challenge to your feline friend. What seems solid to you, may come crashing down when a cat or dog begins chasing around and jumping up. A lid that seems secure enough may not hold when knocked over.

Pets aren't simply objects or things easily discarded, but living creatures in our care. They deserve our best considerations. If there is only one piece of advice you can remember, make it this. For the safety of your dog or cat or other pet(s), when you come and go, always check and know (not just assume) where your pets are.