Many homeowners would not think about installing pool fencing for pet safety, but it's actually a really good idea. Although official government records are not documented, PetPlace Online Magazine estimates that "5,000 family pets drown in backyard swimming pools annually".
Let's all face it, our family pets are really just another member of our family household. And, losing a pet carelessly by drowning in a swimming pool can be a real heartbreaker. The story is best told by Dr. Patty Khuly in this PetMed Online Magazine story:
"Five years ago this week, I lost my best friend, Marcel. He was a beautiful French Bulldog entrusted to me by a reputable breeder who needed to place this fancy show dog in a home where he would receive more attention (this breeder already had a number of dogs he was caring for). I was recently divorced and newly relocated to Miami after graduating from school; he was my best friend at a difficult time.
Two years later Marcel accompanied me to a gathering of friends at a home in Coconut Grove. Accustomed to being poolside at my parents` house, I assumed he’d be as safe here as anywhere. I was wrong. After ten minutes of inattention I found him at the bottom of the swimming pool.
As a veterinarian, the feeling of losing a dog this way takes on a new dimension… the guilt is extreme. I can’t plead ignorance or bad luck — just carelessness".
That's a real sad story, but it happens too often!
Many believe that all dogs and cats can naturally swim. That just isn't true! There are at least 8 dog breeds that are registered as non-swimming. These breeds are:
