|
For many
families, pets
contribute some
of the feelings
of warmth and
comfort they
associate with
their homes.
More than half
of all U.S.
households have
a pet of some
kind. According
to a survey done
by the American
Pet Products
Manufacturers
Association,
these homes
include 77.6
million cats and
65 million dogs.
Of course, some
challenges come
along with the
companionship
and loyalty pets
provide. Your
Golden Retriever
does a great job
of protecting
your home – but
how do you
protect your
home from him?
Protecting Your
Home: Julia
Szabo, author of
Animal House
Style: Designing
a Home to Share
with Your Pets,
advocates using
semi-gloss paint
to protect walls
from oil stains
from loose pet
hair and pets
rubbing against
walls.
She also says
bare floors
(wood, tile,
stone or
laminate) with
area rugs are a
better choice
than
wall-to-wall
carpeting for
homes with pets.
Carpeting traps
pet hair, stains
and odors. Bare
floors are much
easier to keep
clean and won’t
be damaged by
“accidents.”
Katherine Salant,
author of The
Brand New House
Book, warns the
one place that
your house
should be
carpeted is the
stairs, because
dogs –
especially
“seniors” and
puppies – can
slip on them.
It’s also wise
to secure small
area rugs with a
non-stick mat or
some heavy
furniture – or
your pet’s
activities may
turn them into
“scatter” rugs.
The simpler
window
treatments now
popular are a
boon for pet
owners. Sheer
curtains, blinds
and shades
harbor less dust
and pet hair
than heavy
drapes.
Durable,
washable slip
covers help keep
furniture clean.
If your pet is
trained to stay
off the
furniture, you
may want to
purchase some
coordinating
fabric to cover
a large floor
pillow just for
him.
Special Pet
Amenities: In an
article written
for the Valley
Humane Society
in Pleasanton,
California, pet
owner Sue Jones
shares the
following
practical ways
to create an
attractive,
comfortable
haven for
families and
pets.
“Some
architectural
elements
to
consider
in your
home
might
include:
1.
Built-in
dog
‘dens’
beneath
custom
cabinets
(to
keep
dogs
from
getting
under
foot
during
meal
preparation);
2.
Indoor
bathing
and
grooming
stations
(often
in
mud
or
laundry
rooms
–
see
drawing
below);
3.
Pull-out
drawers
acting
as
tuck-away
feeding
stations;
4.
Gates
that
work
like
sliding
pocket
doors
to
limit
a
pet’s
access
to
another
room;
5.
Indoor
structural
ramps
and
beams
for
kitties
to
roam
about
the
upper
reaches
of
your
ceiling;
and
6.
Accessible,
built-in
food
storage
areas."
|
“Design
materials,”
Jones continues,
“include a new
carpet called
Pet-Agree® with
a waterproof
polyethylene
backing that
prevents urine
from reaching
the carpet pad.
Decorating with
imitation suede
or ‘ultra suede’
discourages
scratching. A
tightly quilted,
very durable
fabric called
matelasse is
recommended for
bed coverings.
“Backyard
landscaping
could include a
separate dirt
pit apart from
your flower
garden for the
pet that needs
to bury his
treasures. Try a
Kitty Aviary or
a Kitty Walk for
your indoor cats
to safely enjoy
the outdoors.
Plan a garden
path to include
small bridges
and tunnels for
terriers to
explore. Plant a
beautiful garden
with non-toxic
plants. Add a
continuous water
fountain for
your pets to
enjoy clean
water and stay
hydrated.”
Protecting Your
Pet: In her
popular book
Beautiful
Places,
Spiritual
Spaces, author
Sharon
Hanby-Robie adds
these
suggestions to
keep pets safe:
“Just like
children, you
must pet-proof
your home. Lock
cabinet doors to
keep little paws
from opening
them. Keep trash
cans covered or
safely behind
locked cabinet
doors. Be sure
your garage is
safe by keeping
rakes and
shovels out of
the way, so they
don’t get
knocked over.
Clean the floor
of any oil or
antifreeze
puddles since
one lick can be
deadly. Consider
installing an
invisible fence.
It works great
for dogs and
cats alike.”
A little
careful
forethought
inside and
outside your
home will make
it easier for
you and your
four-legged
friends to live
harmoniously for
years to come.
|
