Spring clean your yard and keep your pet safe

You know it’s spring when you let the dog out and they only come bounding back a half-hour later, covered in mud and leaves and whatever else has been buried under the snow all winter. As the warmer weather arrives, it’s time to turn your attention to the potential hazards your backyard is slowly revealing to ensure your pet stays safe as they explore their favorite spaces again. Here are a few spring-cleaning tips to help your dog and cat stay safe.

Deck and stairs

There may be parts of your deck or stairs that aren’t used during the warm months because they’re in an area where a barbeque, plant, or other object is. Pets love to crawl into these hidden spaces to explore. Be sure they are free from debris and any potential way for your pet to harm themselves.

Get rid of any fallen branches that may have landed on your patio. These can easily scratch your pet’s eyes or skin and lead to irritation or infection.

Curious pets will inevitably find that tempting squirrel, mouse, or rabbit nest that’s tucked away under your back stairs or beneath the deck. Take a look around to find them before they do!

Remember that small items—like bottle caps, nails, and even cherry pits—can easily fall through deck flooring, creating potential hazards for pets who like to go exploring.

Some pets enjoy finding nooks and crannies, but panic once they realize they’re caught. Often pets will crawl through tiny spaces only to discover they can’t get back out. Block or seal off any openings, and don’t forget pets can fit through spaces that are surprisingly small!

Fences and gates

Fencing can become damaged with use and exposure to the elements, or when shoveling walkways and paths during the winter. This can create openings that pets can escape through, as well as expose raw edges that can scrape, cut, or leave splinters. Once the snow melts, tour your fence perimeter to check for potential hazards and ensure all parts are in good working order. Immediately seal any holes and broken boards with plastic, duct tape, or plywood until they can be repaired properly.

Ground shifts

The thaw and freeze pattern of spring can sometimes cause the ground in your backyard to shift. Heavy spring rains may also cause the earth around your fence line to wash away, leaving gaps where small pets—and sometimes even big ones—can escape. A little metal fencing or plastic garden edging will do the trick until you can raise the ground along your fence line.

Growth spurts

Has your dog grown since the fall? They may now be able to jump or climb onto places they couldn’t reach before. Border Collies are adept at clearing fences by jumping on a small shed or garden bench! Take a moment to remove any items kept near your fence to prevent a daring escape.

Clean up crew

Set aside some time to do a thorough tour of your backyard, looking for any potential dangers. Just put on your garden gloves, grab a plastic bag, and start cleaning. You’ll be surprised at the hazards you’ll uncover: old toys, that moldy Halloween pumpkin you left out, bits of garbage that flew in on the wind, even birds or vermin that died over the winter. Curious pets love to chew on novel items, which can make them very sick. Be sure to inspect around low shrubbery and landscaping rocks, as well as in raised or lowered beds in your garden.

We know you want to keep your pets happy and healthy, so follow these tips to keep them safe this spring.