General dog safety tips...

No one wants to imagine the worst. We often think that if we imagine something bad, we tempt fate and the bad thing really could happen.

No, we don't necessarily want to concentrate on the negative. But if we don't consider all the bad things that could happen to our dogs, how can we be prepared to help save their lives?

You can't always control everything that your dog does, but you can be prepared for the unexpected. You can't explain the dangers of the world to your dog, but you can keep them in mind and learn how to deal with them so that your dog will be more likely to survive them.

Here's a list of a few great things to do to keep your dog safe:

1. Keep a collar on to identify your dog. Every dog should have a collar. This is the best way to be reunited with your dog quickly if he is ever lost or injured. You'd be surprised how often this happens.

2. ID your dog. Please use an ID tag and microchip in case your dog gets lost or gets out and loses his collar. Many people are never reunited with their pets because the pets don't have any form of identification.

3. Keep a leash or harness by the door in case you need to get out of house quickly with your dog or dogs - especially in case of a fire or other critical emergency. Keep multiple leashes if you have multiple dogs.

4. Keep fire safety stickers on the house so firemen will know how many of each kind of pet are inside.

5. Observe your dog for problems and know the common signs of illness. Call your vet when you detect a problem.

6. Keep emergency phone numbers handy e.g. vet, emergency clinic, humane society, animal rescue, poison control. Print and keep this list of emergency phone numbers handy. You never know when you will need it.

The better prepared you are to deal with an emergency situation the better. Take the necessary steps to help keep your pet safe.