Just this Saturday we had two clients come to the clinic to pick up their cat. The cat had been at the clinic for the past two weeks and had been treated for a blown knee. We were all happy for the cat to finally go home, but as the owners carried it outside it spooked at the sound of the cars going down the highway and ran into the woods in front of the clinic. The owners and I spent a good half hour tromping around in the mud, briars, and poison ivy searching for the cat, but he was nowhere to be found. I told the owners we would keep a look out for the cat and contact them if we found it. I felt sorry for the owners, but I couldn't help but think that such a situation could have been avoided. According to some of the other assistants, a similar event had once occurred when a client came to pick up their dog. The dog was not on a leash and jumped out of its owner's arms. It ended up running out into the road and was hit by a car.
There have been numerous times that I have seen clients bring cats, small dogs, and puppies into the clinic without using leashes or carriers. Just because these animals are small enough to easily carry, it doesn't mean that it is the best way to bring them into public. Some people may think it is cruel to keep their pets restrained or keep them in a carrier, but it can keep you and more importantly your best friend safe. Keeping pets on leashes or in carriers is always a common courtesy to others around and protects both the pets and owners from unexpected accidents. Such forms of animal restraint can prevent animals from chasing or attacking people or other animals. They can also prevent pets from getting away from their owners and fleeing if they become frightened. Proper restraint of animals is a topic that should be stressed more often in animal clinics to ensure the safety of clients and their pets.
No comments:
Post a Comment