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Winter's hidden dangers
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Last week, a rusted metal rod that was hidden beneath the snow in a well-known public park nearly fatally impaled a dog that was bounding through the field with his owner. Yesterday, a dog was electrocuted on a sidewalk while walking on a leash. Since the beginning of winter, and each year before, dozens of dogs are pulled (some not so lucky) from chilling waters, after falling through the ice on partially frozen ponds.
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With winters dramatic blankets of snow and ice covering our roads, sidewalks, ponds and fields, hidden objects of danger can easily be hiding in many of the areas where our four-legged friends like to frequent– making the innocence of romping in the snow or going for a walk, a potential invitation to serious injury – or death.Clearly there is no way to forewarn of the dangers that are not visible while we meander through the snow, and with each unceasing winter storm, the unknown becomes something unimaginable until the spring thaw.
The enthusiasm that our pets have for adventure, and to bound and leap through mysterious pastures, is intrinsic, and quite frankly, its innocence should be something that us humans strive to emulate more often! However, we need to take the unfortunate tragedies of others and use them to safely guide our own pets and ourselves. After all, our dogs look to us as their leaders.
Dogs should only be walked in well groomed, previously populated, and well-lit areas, with a clear portrayal of a prior sign of travel. Untouched snow-covered trails and fields do not offer any reassurance that they are safe from harm. Keep your eyes open and watch out for potential dangers on your path. For now, reel in your leash a bit and keep your canine close – you can return him to his life of unrestricted inquisitiveness once the winter season is over.
Stay off the ice, until a true authority has declared it safe on which to walk or skate. Walking on the ice is generally difficult for dogs, and they should be kept off of it whenever possible. Their pads can easily get cold or frost bitten, they can be sliced by sharp edges, and they can even be wounded simply from ice melt and salt. Running and stopping on icy surfaces can easily cause injuries to a dog’s hips, knees, and elbows. *If your dog should fall through the ice, DO NOT go out to rescue him on your own – call 911. In many cases, dogs are able to save themselves – firefighters and other responders frequently wind up on human-through-ice calls by the time they arrive to assist a dog.
Incidents of sidewalk shocks to dog’s stems back several years, when numerous cases of dogs being shocked on winter sidewalks were reported all across the country. In winter, scores of underground utilities are latent, and once coupled with sidewalks covered with salt, sand, ice and water, can recurrently serve as conductors of electricity – creating an electric shock high enough to injure, or even kill a dog. When walking, be sure to keep your dog away from metal fixtures, such as light posts and manhole covers – watch where you step! And pay attention to any abrupt changes in your dog’s behavior that may be indicative of him feeling a sudden discomfort while he is walking.
Dogs should not be let out off leash, even in areas where running at large is permitted - where their curiosity can easily land them in the middle of a dangerous winter predicament. Keep your dog at your side or close in your view – and be sure he knows how to listen when you command, “Stay!”, “Come!” or “No!”.
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