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Dog Life Jacket

cnidria | Dec 11, 2009 |

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When around water with your dog, you should not safely assume that he or she can swim and I would advise investing in a dog life jacket. Although many dogs can swim, they can so easily get into trouble and drown very quickly.

Estimates have the number of dogs and cats in North America at 58,000,000 and 62,000,000, respectively, and it's a painful truth that thousands of them are victims of accidental drownings annually. More accurate numbers cannot be obtained, as many of the fatalities are not reported. Ninety-nine percent of canines can swim; however, we fail to worry when observing our canine friends running around and jumping into a lake or backyard swimming pool, jumping out and jumping in again. So many dogs lives can be saved with the use of a dog life jacket. Dogs, and even some cats, grow tired after swimming short distances in water. When they are not able to find purchase anywhere with their paws, a debilitating panic sets in quickly, and this is what will cause them to drown. Our beloved pets are not the only victims of drowning, devoted pet owners will risk their own lives to go after their animals after they have fallen into a frozen lake or a swiftly flowing river.

Is there anything that can be done to keep pets from drowning in this manner? These are some worthy suggestions:

1. Do not make the assumption that your dog is able to swim.

2. Watch an aging pet carefully. As they get older, they can not swim the distances or for the length of time they once could.

3. NEVER toss a cat or a dog into the water. The shock they experience will cause them to panic.

4. Obtain a pet life jacket or one of the canine flotation devices (CPD) for your pet. If they are going to be near water, put it on them. It is not uncommon for a pet to fall off of a moving watercraft or dock and not be seen.

5. Things like pool covers and solar blanks may appear to be solid to an animal. If your animals are near the pool, it is a good idea to remove them when possible.

6. You can also install a safety gate for your pets by the pool area

7. Be certain that your canine and feline friends cannot easily access a neighboring pool.

8. Install a pool alarm for a pond or your pool.

9. Do not permit your pets to walk or play around swiftly flowing water.

10. Do not let your pets near frozen bodies of water.

Seeing your pet drown and the awful guilt that is associated with it can be overwhelming and very difficult or impossible to recover from. Survey your property for any water hazards that may exist. Make your home and any vacation residences drown proof immediately, whether it's in the dead of winter or during the summer months. Make it a requirement for your dog to wear a dogs life jacket or canine flotation device if they will be near a body of water.