Keeping Pets Safely on your Property | Dog & Cat Health, Wellness, Products and Breed Information

Keeping Pets Safely on your Property
| Print | By Dr. Cori Gross DVM | May 12, 2009 1:08 PM

Imagine the security of knowing that your dog will no longer wander away after digging under your fence, or that your cat is safely confined in your backyard without the possibility of climbing out. Wouldn't it be nice to sit down at your work computer to look up the current location of your pet? These are a few of the advantages offered by the new breed of pet confinement options.

Fencing Options for Dogs

For dogs, fencing your property is the obvious choice. Unfortunately, fences can be difficult to maintain and are discouraged by many homeowner associations due to their appearance. A popular alternative is to use electronic, in-ground fencing.

One company, Invisible Fence ®, www.invisiblefence.com, will send a representative to your home to bury a cable along the perimeter of your property. This cable emits radiowaves that are detected by a receiver worn on the dog's collar. The receiver emits a warning tone when the pet gets near the boundary line and will "correct" the pet with a slight shock if it crosses over the line.

The company claims that the pet will learn the boundaries within two to three weeks, as long as the owner follows the training instructions. Some pet owners will combine an in-ground fence with an above-ground fence for extra security.

This product can also be used inside the home to keep the pet out of certain rooms. There are no buried cables involved, just a small five-inch indoor transmitter that can be hidden behind furniture, under stairs, in between floors or mounted on a wall.

Fencing Options for Cats

The safest choice for your cat is to keep them indoors. They live longer and have fewer injuries. However, many people want their cat to experience the great outdoors without compromising safety. One fencing option, Purr...fect Fence®, www.purrfectfence.com offers cat owners peace of mind with a unique design that prevents escape. The fence is buried underground to prevent your cat from digging out; it is made of a plastic mesh that is very difficult to climb. If he does manage to climb it, the sharply angled edge prevents him from getting over the top.

"Purr...fect Fence with our patent pending design offers a virtually invisible, escape-proof cat fence system," explains Matt Hough, vice president. "We are the only complete cat fence system on the market and we pride ourselves on having an extremely rugged and long-lasting product that will keep your cats happy and safe in your backyard paradise."

Tracking Your Pet Using GPS

When all else fails, you can now locate your missing pet using one of several pet GPS devices that attach to the pet's collar. Some gadgets even offer a feature that e-mails you when the pet wanders off of your property. Pet-specific GPS products include Zoombak, www.zoombak.com, PocketFinder, www.pocketfinder.com, RoamEO, Garmin Astro, www.garmin.com, and Trace:GPS.

Don't Forget the Microchip

The American Humane Association estimates that only 17 percent of lost dogs and two percent of lost cats are ever reunited with their owners. These confinement and tracking systems can improve your pet's safety at home but nothing takes the place of a microchip implanted under your pet's skin. Microchipping your pet significantly reduces the chance that it will be euthanized should it turn up at an animal shelter. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to find out if your pet already has a microchip or if an implantation should be scheduled.