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Above: Pet lover Helen Stroud, at home with her pals
(left to right) Petey, Pippi, Joe Dirt, Izzie and Mary, says the main reason people get rid of their pets is that they think their animals are ruining the furniture. But attractive, washable slipcovers protect furniture so pets can keep living harmoniously at home with humans.
Photo by Miro Dvorscak
special attention to your animal companion’s safety and needs ensures a happy living arrangement
BY harvey marks
Americans love pets, so it’s no surprise more and more of us are adapting our homes to meet the needs of our furry friends. But as you make your preparations for that new family member, remember that for a pet to thrive, it needs the same basic things people require — companionship, a clean, healthful environment and a sense of security. Everything else is just working out the details.
FROM A PET PERSPECTIVE
Literally get down on your hands and knees and view the world from your pet’s perspective. Objects on low shelves, coffee tables or floor items all are easy targets for young paws and teeth or vigorously wagging tails. You can spare yourself some future grief if you remove the temptation until your pet has been house trained. After all, you really can’t blame them for doing what comes naturally.
Electric cords pose a special risk. Keep them out of reach or consider securing them to baseboards to deter chewing. You can further protect your pet and your possessions with products such as Bitter Apple, which has a taste most animals dislike. It’s nonstaining and odorless to humans and can be safely sprayed on many objects you want to place off-limits.
Also, be careful about where you leave food. Candy wrappers, soft drinks or a plate of goodies innocently left out easily can lead your pet into temptation and a lifetime of counter surfing. Even worse, it could lead to an accidental poisoning because many of the foods we routinely enjoy such as chocolate, grapes and onions can make pets sick.
When it comes to safety and comfort, Sonya Fitzpatrick, a pet communicator whose popular show, “The Pet Psychic,” ran on The Animal Channel, has her own special advice. Based on her communications with pets, she recommends avoiding strong commercial cleansers. “These products can sicken pets and even shorten their lives,” Sonya says. “Things that smell good to humans don’t always smell nice to animals. I suggest using vinegar and water cleaners or organic products with a natural lavender scent, which has an aroma they especially like.”
COZY BEDDING
Many pet owners are interested in giving their pets every possible advantage by providing unique and individual accommodations. In some cases, that means adding window seats, elaborate play structures and other furnishings to give their four-legged friends a place to nap or enjoy a bit
of privacy.
At Pet People Furniture.com in Plano, pet owners can find a wide range of wrought iron bed frames and custom upholstery-grade pet bedding fabrics. Some customers opt to have multiple upholstered beds and fabrics — one for the summer months and one for the holidays. “We love pets, and we want to accommodate the needs of pet families without sacrificing style,” says Carice Welch, the store’s owner.
Welch says custom pet beds offer a comfortable place for pets to reside when owners are gone. “Pets can have a plush environment, a place that is warm and snugly, where they can relax,” she says.
OPENING NEW DOORS
Pet doors allow pets to enter and exit a home at will, and can save the homeowner fuel and electricity costs caused by excessively opening the door to let pets in and out during the hot summer months and the cold winter months.
Companies such as Doors 4 Pets & People in Louisville, sell customized storm and steel exterior pet doors, with the doggie door based on the pet’s shoulder height. Storeowner Louis A. Shannon saw a need for customized pet doors first hand. He purchased a standard pet door when his golden retriever was just a puppy, but as the pet grew and got older, she started having problems with arthritis, and the low pet door was no longer functional.
Shannon, previously an architect and engineer, created a storm door with a customizable pet door and opened his own store selling his doors in 2003.
“It’s what pet owners need for their dog, and it also addresses décor and style for their home,” Shannon says, adding that the steel exterior doors come in various designs.
OUTDOOR ACCOMODATIONS
Some manufacturers offer multistory condos and tunnel systems that can be set up indoors, on patios or in gardens to allow cats and other pets to safely enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.
Dog owners also might be interested in providing environmental enrichment for their pets. This movement, which often is called “barkitecture,” involves redefining outdoor areas to make them pet-friendly. Dogs that spend much time outdoors need to be kept engaged. Otherwise, they will dig and chew and wear paths through the lawn.
As a starting point, environmental enrichment takes into account the dog’s breed and inherent personality, as well as the limitations of the area concerned. A path system will appeal to a dog’s need to stop, sniff and explore. Modular decking can create a rise to provide a welcome dog’s eye-view of the terrain.
Adding a doghouse can give your pet a sheltered spot where it can snooze or simply go to feel safe and protected.
Such accommodations can be fun and highly satisfying. But whether you’re making special arrangements or sharing your everyday living space, create an environment where you can enjoy each other’s company. If you do that, the results are likely to be a rich and mutually satisfying relationship with a very special family member.
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RESOURCES
DOORS 4 PETS & PEOPLE
2001 Hillshire Dr., Louisville
972.315.3520
www.doors4petsandpeople.com
SONYA FITZPATRICK
ANIMAL COMMUNICATOR
www.sonyafitzpatrick.com
MIDNIGHT PASS
www.MIDNIGHTPASS.com
MITCHELL GOLD + BOB WILLIAMS
www.mgandbw.coM
PETPEOPLEFURNITURE
600 W. 15TH St (located in Interiors Galleria), Plano
972.898.2919
www.petpeoplefurniture.com
PETSAFE
www.PETSAFE.com
POOCHIE PETS
www.poochie-pets.net
TAILS OF THE CITY
6819 snyder plaza, dallas
214.750.7602
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