How To Keep A Safe Yard For Your Pets
Pets have provided companionship to many households over the years, with research revealing that 66% of homes keep pets. But after bringing one home, you must provide a safe space for your furry friend. You must feed, care for, and protect these animals in the best possible ways. One way to do this is by having an enjoyable and secure outdoor space. Having such a space allows you to have enough playtime with your pet, which is essential because it fosters bonding. If you’re wondering how to create and maintain a yard that prioritizes your pet’s well-being, below are some practical ways.
1. Secure Perimeter Fencing
A sturdy and well-maintained perimeter fence helps protect your pet from any danger outside the house. Pets like dogs are highly curious and would take advantage of gaps, loose boards, or convenient spaces that allow them to sneak out of your perimeter. It would help to inspect the fence regularly to ensure they aren’t compromised or jagged to pose any danger to your pets. First, opt for a fence with a height size that corresponds with your pet’s physical size. Too short a fence will become an easy jumping activity for your furry companions. Remember to reinforce the bottom of the fence to prevent dogs from digging underneath to escape. If possible, add a security layer in the form of locks to prevent your furry escape artist from breezing in and out of the inner perimeter.
- Use pet-friendly plants and landscaping
Reading about garden plants is advisable to determine which ones to keep in your yard, as some are highly toxic to dogs and cats. Chrysanthemums, lilies, sago palms, daffodils, tulips, and the jade plant are poisonous if ingested or inhaled by your pets. Reaction ranges from mild discomfort to severe toxicity depending on the plant and how much was ingested. Less severe toxic plants can cause irritation on your dog’s nose or around its mouth when sniffed. In case of ingestion, it’s best to rush your pet to the nearest vet for help. The best thing is to avoid these garden plants altogether and opt for non-toxic ones like the ponytail palm, spider plant, and African Violet.
The landscape is another area to look at in your yard. If you want a fancy landscape design, remember to factor your pets into the plan. Designate play areas that prevent them from causing damage to the landscape or themselves. It would be best to regularly inspect the yard to ensure it remains a safe place for pet exploration.
- Responsible waste management
Responsible waste management is necessary for the overall safety and hygiene of your home’s outdoor space. However, sometimes conflicting schedules and busy lifestyles make it challenging to keep an eye on the yard to keep it clean. Make a deliberate effort to establish a cleaning routine to remove any waste your pet leaves behind on your outdoors.
Have designated bins or compost areas as part of responsible waste management. Doing this prevents disease spread and unpleasant odors. However, if for any reason, you cannot maintain regular waste management routines, you may want to get assistance from a dog poop pick up service. Their expertise in efficient pet waste removal creates a healthier home and environment. Even better, your young kids can run outdoors without worrying about coming into contact with pet waste. The yard can be a safe playing space when you stick to strict cleaning routines.
4. Provide Adequate Shade And Shelter
Enjoying the shade in your cool outdoor area is a great way to unwind. Likewise, your pets will enjoy shade or shelter, especially against the harsh sun, rain, and other weather elements. Animals like cats and dogs are prone to heat-related illnesses, so it makes sense to stop that from happening. Believe it or not, dogs have sensitive paws that endure irritations when exposed to scorched grounds. Strategically planted trees or canopied areas can provide comfort away from the indoors. You don’t need to train your dog to seek sanctuary in the shaded parts of the yard. They will naturally move there to seek shelter from extreme weather. It helps to provide a clean water source in these shaded outdoor areas to keep your pets hydrated. However, inspect the water source regularly to protect your pets from drinking contaminated water.
- Keep safe outdoor toys
Aside from your pets’ indoor toys, it will be proper to provide durable outdoor toys to be kept in the yard. Dogs, for example, need constant stimulation, and one way to do so is by encouraging outdoor play. Keep them mentally stimulated by giving them toys that cannot be ingested. That means you must avoid small toys that pose a choking hazard when they’re playing outdoors. The key tip here is durability, but sometimes, their sharp teeth can cause wear and tear to these safe toys. It explains why you must constantly inspect your pet’s outdoor play objects to prevent injuries. Keep a weather-resistant cupboard in the yard to keep your pet’s outdoor toys. Protecting them from extreme weather conditions will maintain them in excellent condition for longer.
6. Maintain pest control practices in your yard
Pests are unwelcome guests in any home, but they always find ways to infiltrate the backyard. Sometimes, pest infestation occurs due to your actions and inactions. For instance, poorly maintained yards are hot spots for pest infestation until you take proactive steps. The most worrying aspect of pest infestation is the parasites they carry. For instance, mice and rats carry infectious disease-causing pathogens that are dangerous to your pets.
Fortunately, you can help manage this by ensuring your pets’ vaccinations are up-to-date. Secondly, implement a control strategy to reduce the risk of ticks and fleas making a home in your backyard. Regular fumigation plays a significant role in keeping your yard pest-free. However, due to the toxicity of fumigation chemicals, keep your pets away from the yard to avoid accidental poisoning.
Your yard can be as safe as you make it for your pets and family’s well-being.
