New Year, New Apartment? How to Pet-Proof Your New Place

If the New Year requires the symmetry of a new apartment, or if the holidays brought a new nibbler (read:  rampaging puppy) gift-wrapped like the shoe-eater she is, it might be time to lock away the leather.   Need some help pet-proofing?  We’ve covered the basics:

Think “child-proof”

If a crawling kid could open it or eat it, chances are your pet could, too.  Latches should be difficult to open.  Chemicals should be locked away or on very high shelves.  Knick-knacks should be hidden or impossible to reach.  Electrical wires should be tucked away.  You can even install baby gates at the top of stairs, or anywhere you’d prefer your pet not venture.  I once had a dog that could turn door knobs with his nose, so if you haven’t picked out your new baby at the pound yet, consider opting for the vacant-looking one; he might cause less trouble.

Don’t be a slob

Small items, from board game pieces to shoe laces, are easy to leave lying about and equally easy to send you to the vet.   Keep your toilet lid down and your trash bin behind doors, or at least with a hefty lid.

Pay attention

Far be it from us to make a joke about a baby animal in a dryer, but you get the picture—not knowing where your pet is can lead to disaster.  Being followed around may seem like fun at first, but when you accidentally lock the poor pooch in the basement for hours, you’re just asking for years of pet therapy to overcome the trauma.  Notice your pet’s weaknesses, too—some dogs, for example, treat pillow stuffing like catnip, so there may be some unexpected things you have to hide away.

Know the basics

No chocolate, ever.  No anti-freeze.  Lilies are poison to cats.  Pesticides and other chemicals don’t discriminate between the animals you love and the ones you don’t.  Ask your vet for any crucial information you should know before taking Fido home.

Do you have tips on pet-proofing a new apartment?  Tell us here or on Facebook!