How to have a pet-friendly home

Dogs and cats are the most kept pets in many homes. This is in addition to pigeons, hens, some reptiles and rabbits. 

Dogs and cats are known to be man’s best friends. However, one must know that although they make good company, they can also be dangerous in one way or the other. 

Paul Ssemwanga, a veterinary doctor says some pets hurt people and traumatise them, making them abandon the idea of keeping pets.

However, Ssemwanga says a pet can be trained to relate well with humans and other animals, know the signs and sounds in a home and their meanings and have many other social skills.

Pets need their space

There are incidents where pet owners share living spaces like beds, seats and kitchenware with pets. This is wrong and unhealthy. 

Pets must have their own space because they can transfer diseases to their owners. 

Joel Tumeno, a pet trainer says although some experts suggest close contact between a pet and its guardian, there are many risks the guardian is exposed to like contracting life-threatening infections which include rabies, scabies, ringworms, tuberculosis, cat scratch fever, plague, tick paralysis, bird flu and other allergies. 

A pet-free sleeping area helps relieve allergy and infection symptoms. 

Kennels

A kennel is ideal for dogs, giving them comfort and protection from rain and sunshine at any time of the day. 

A good kennel should have a floor that sits on firm ground to prevent water from accessing it during the rainy season. 

It should be large enough to allow easy animal movements and can be cleaned with ease. It must also be well ventilated to accommodate hot and cold days evenly.

Litter boxes

Cats are shy, but clean pets. To accommodate them, an empty box or plastic tray with a soft clean cloth can be their bed. 

A cat house must absorb its urine. It must also be cleaned thoroughly. 

Tumeno says pets should be left to freely roam around the house but should be monitored so that they do not spoil cushions in the sitting room or go on sniffing kitchen utensils. 

Alex Ochieng, a manager at Uganda Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (USPCA), says managing a pet well depends on how you care for it. 

Some pets can be violent even as they protect their owners.

Ochieng also cautions against mistreating pets by, say, denying them shelter, locking them up at a time they should exercise and denying them a clean place to rest. 

“Even dangerous guard dogs should be released to walk about freely for a few hours of the day as opposed to keeping them locked up for long. Confining pets, especially dogs, for long hours makes them vicious. 

Maintenance

Bath time: To ensure that a pet is clean, it should bathe regularly by shampooing it with antibacterial shampoo to manage the spread of allergens.

Pets’ (dogs, cats) claws have to be groomed to keep them clean. One can use a nail clip, pliers or a pair of scissors when the animal is under anesthesia.

For pets with much fur and those that love staying indoors, homeowners must cover the furniture and beddings with covers and rugs or sheets that can collect fur from the pet after it has rested. This is ideal for easy cleaning of the furniture and beddings. Tumeno advises people intending to buy pets to learn the basic commands of pets, which include handling, different methods of training pets like feeding, toilet manners, security and hygiene.