Every year thousands of pets around the
country are given as gifts during the holiday season. If you are thinking about
joining this tradition, please “paws” to prepare your home before bringing a
furry friend home for the holidays.
Puppies and kittens are naturally curious and
tend to turn unexpected household items into play or chew toys. A frisky dog or
curious cat can cause an electrical hazard or fire in ways you may not have
thought about. Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative and Safe Electricity offers
this safety checklist:
·
Keep electrical cords away from puppies and kittens so
they don’t chew on them and receive a severe shock. What may seem like a mild
shock to an adult may be enough to kill a small pet. Cover the cord with a heavy
plastic sleeve or ask your pet store for a bitter tasting product you could put
on the cord.
· Check to be sure nightlights and appliances are completely plugged into wall outlets. Small fingers, paws or tongues can easily find partially exposed prongs and are a hazard for curious children, puppies and kittens.
· Halogen lamps should never be used in play areas. Halogen bulbs can reach very high temperatures, and if knocked over during play, could easily start a fire.
· All appliances near sinks or bathtubs should be plugged into an outlet equipped with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). Playful pets can knock radios, curling irons and other items into the water, creating a dangerous situation. GFCIs stop the flow of electricity instantly if there is a problem, and when properly used, can save lives.
·
Do not
allow pets to curl up for a nap behind warm computer equipment. They need to
learn to stay away from all electrical connections.