Tips from PETA for Keeping Your Pet Safe this Summer

Posted by Amber McDonald on Aug 2, 2012 in Animals, News | 0 comments

Snoopy, a 17-year-old dog, went missing this week outside the Whole Foods store on P Street, prompting PETA to urge D.C. residents never to leave dogs alone outside stores, restaurants, or anywhere else, even for “just a minute.” That minute could haunt an animal guardian for the rest of his or her life.

Leaving animals outdoors unattended invites tragedy. Tied up alone, animals can easily be stolen, attacked by other animals, or subjected to random acts of cruelty. If spooked by a loud noise, an animal might also slip his or her collar in a panic and become lost or be hit by a car. A scared dog can bite children or adults—even those with the best of intentions—who approach the animal clumsily.

PETA recommends that you take the following simple precautions to protect your animal companion’s safety:

· If you plan to run errands while you’re out walking your dog, take a human companion along. That way, someone you trust can run the errand while you wait with your dog or vice versa.

· If you must stop somewhere where dogs aren’t welcome, drop your dog off at home, where he or she will be safe and comfortable. Your animal companion’s safety is well worth making a side trip.

· Never leave your dog in a parked car during the summer for any amount of time, even with the windows slightly open. The inside of a car can reach deadly temperatures in minutes.

“Dog theft and other dangers should be taken very seriously,” says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “It only takes a second for a dog tied up outside a store—out of your sight—to be abducted. Please never leave your animal companions alone outside stores, restaurants, or anywhere else.”

For more information, please visit PETA.org.