Wild About Leash Safety

It has been so AWESOME meeting new furry friends (& their owners too!) but we wanted to remind everyone about a topic that can be helpful for everyone…LEASH SAFETY! — I will also touch on cat safety a little as well!

Upon entering Blandon Family Veterinary Practice, it is imperative that your dog be leashed at all times, not only for the safety of your dog, but for the security of other pets and owners in the office as well. Even though I know that our furry friends are little angels and listen to us really well at home, we all know that they sometimes act differently when they visit us at the office.  (I love my 13 year old dog, Lucky,  but I know that she is kind of naughty at the vet every time, so I know about this first hand!)

With that said, we all need to keep in mind that even though your pet may be expressing good behavior, the dog that comes in next may be super nervous, and if either dog would happen to get off leash, a number of unexpected things could happen. One of the worst situations that could happen is having a loose dog escape the office. They all know where the door is, and it seems as though they all pay attention whenever it opens. Our pups are a lot smarter than we think! By keeping your dog on a leash, the chance of escape is greatly diminished.

There are many reasons why leash safety is so important, but here are just a few helpful tidbits of information that you can use both in and out of the office:

• It’s the Law. Simply put, in many areas, it is the law that dogs must be on a leash. Pennsylvania Leash Law states that is “unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog to fail to keep at all times the dog in any of the following manners”:
  • confined within the premises of the owner;
  • firmly secured by means of a collar and chain or other device so that it cannot stray beyond the premises on which it is secured;
  • under the reasonable control of some person, or when engaged in lawful hunting, exhibition or field training.
• Using a regular, non-retractable leash gives the owner more control of his or her dog in most, if not all, situations.
• Using a leash at all times can reinforce good training habits.
• Using a leash keeps your dog from jumping on people you encounter, ensuring that your dog has the chance of being properly introduced.
• A well trained, leash-obedient dog is a pleasure to walk with.
• When you walk your pet on a leash, you can help to monitor the spread of disease. It is less likely that your dog will be exposed to Canine Parvovirus, Distemper, or Giardia. A leashed dog can be restrained or distracted from sniffing the droppings of other animals.
• A leash is commonly referred to as “Your Pet’s Lifeline”, protecting your pet from traffic and unrestrained animals.
• Having your dog on a leash allows us at Blandon Family Veterinary Practice to greet your dog properly, which can lead to a positive relationship that can be reinforced each time they visit us here at the office!Don’t think I forgot about our feline friends! It is also imperative that your feline companion be confined in some sort of carrier whenever they visit us at the office. There are plenty of acceptable forms of carriers, such as cardboard carriers or fabric carriers with zippers, but we have found that plastic carriers are usually the best option, since they are usually sturdier and they give cats a little more space to move and look around.There are many advantages to keep your cat confined whenever they are out of their home environment. It is much safer to keep your cat in a carrier, instead of holding him or her in a blanket, for example. I have seen this done before, and it does not end well. Some cats can be easily spooked, and when that happens, again, there could be a number of unexpected things that could happen. Cats can scratch their owners or jump out of their arms. Also, they are really good at finding a hiding spot when they know that we are trying to chase them! When you take all of that in to consideration, I know that it can be pretty tricky to get a cat into a carrier, but it is well worth it!
  We love visitors and we love making new friends!
  Our hours are as follows:
  Mondays & Fridays: 8am – 4pm
  Tuesdays & Thursdays: 11am – 7pm
  Every Other Saturday: 8am -12noon
  Wednesday & Sunday: closed.

  If you have any questions about anything you’ve read, please feel free to call us at 610-268-6208 or stop in to visit us! We would be happy to speak with you and answer your questions to the best of our ability!