Pet Proofing Your Home

Things to check before bringing your foster pet home

  • Do you have any gaps under your cabinets or appliances that they can get under? If so, you will need to block these gaps before bringing your foster pet home.
  • Do you have any exposed wires, phone cords, etc. that they can chew? If so, you will need to cover or block these from where your foster pet can access them.
  • Do you have indoor plants on the floor where your foster pets can reach them? Most indoor plants can be very toxic to pets. We recommend placing all indoor plants up on tables or shelves and out of reach of foster pets.

Ensure pets have no access to any of the items listed below on the floor, or inside doors and cabinets that are low to the ground and possibly opened. For example, if you will be keeping pets in the bathroom or kitchen, make sure that there are no dangerous items (listed below) inside the lower cabinets in case they are able to open cabinet doors and access inside.

The following items can be dangerous for your foster pet...

Toxins

  • House plants such as: lilies, poinsettias, Christmas tree pine needles, sago palm.
  • Soap: including both liquid and powdered soap/detergent.
  • Household cleaners: including bleach, Lysol, and any other harsh cleansers.
  • Automotive liquids: antifreeze, oil, and any other type of liquid
  • Prescriptions: human and/or other animal’s prescriptions.

Electric Shock

  • Electrical cords hanging too close to where dogs are housed and they can grab/chew them.
  • Plugs hanging halfway out of the outlet.
  • Space underneath appliances or on the back side of fridges, stoves, washers, dryers, etc.
  • Holes leading into walls.
  • Phone chargers and laptop cords.

Physical Trauma

  • Crushing injuries from: recliners, rocking chairs, doors, cupboards, wheelchairs, larger animals.
  • Falling injuries from: stairs, counters, curtains, bookshelves, windowsills, people’s arms.
  • Drowning: large water bowls, toilets.
  • Choking: rubber bands, ribbons, strings, yarn, plastic bags, chunks of foam, ear plugs.

Escaping/Hiding

  • Puppy sized holes: Puppies can fit into very small spaces! And we have had several stories of puppies gone “missing” that were actually hiding somewhere in the house!
  • Under (or inside) the couch, under (or inside) the bed/box spring, under dressers, under the sink, behind washers/dryers/water heaters, pretty much anywhere….
  • Open windows, screens that pop out, doors left open.