We've all heard the stories about a dog -- and potentially its owner -- getting severely shocked and sometimes even being fatally electrocuted when coming in contact with a manhole cover or electrical box. Personally, these stories make me sick to my stomach and really angry at the people who are responsible for making sure these types of things don't happen.
The unfortunate truth though is that the only one who can definitely make sure something tragic like this doesn't happen to your pet is YOU! I know that when I walk my dog Max, I'm pretty cautious about not letting him walk over electrical boxes or pee on lamp posts. This said, I always feel like I'm being superstitious or something, but the truth is I'm being protective of my dog. What I didn't realize is that there are a lot more hazards out there than I thought!
There's a great site called www.streetzaps.com, which was started by a woman named Blair Sorrel. Clearly Blair loves animals and is providing a great service to all dog owners -- and their dogs. According to StreetZaps there are many potential street hazards that pet owners should be aware of:
- Street & traffic lights (even if the compartment is closed and the light isn't on)
- Construction sites -- they may look like wooden boxes/blocks but there may be electrical components under them, so beware
- ATM vestibules
- Decorative lighting
- Fire hydrants (who knew?)
- Fire & police call boxes
- Manhole covers
- Muni-meters
- Phone booths
- Service boxes
- Street light boxes
- Traffic boxes
This site offers a wealth of information ranging from precautionary tactics and safety tips to incident reports and danger zones, so definitely check it out! WebVet wants to give a big shout out to Blair for her efforts to increase awareness of shock and electrocution-related issues and her tips on how to protect you and your dog.
Walk safely!
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