There’s something that makes apartment dwellers and office workers shudder with absolute fear. Social media video showing closed lift doors of an owner on one side – and the dog on the other. A heart wrenching and terrifying thing as we imagine all the times we’ve used a lift and avoided this catastrophe.
Luckily some of these horror scenarios end with only minor injuries. Very sadly, in some cases, the results are tragic. That feeling of being utterly helpless and fearing the worst in the moments until the doors open and you can get back to your dog would be horrific.
It’s easy enough to happen. Everyone’s experienced lift doors do something unpredictable. Other people, packages, and distractions get in the way while juggling the dog. You can’t be too careful when using a lift. Unfortunately, if it does happen – mostly what comes next is down to sheer luck and fortune.
Keeping your dog safe around elevators
There are some things to keep in mind that can help avoid such a disaster. Australian Dog Lover has some tips to be mindful of while keeping your dog’s safety in mind. I really do suggest you take the time to read this life saving public service announcement for dog owners.
After reading these through, something that I think sticks out as needing extra attention by pet parents is those of us who use a retractable lead. When using a retractable lead, the user must be very experienced at manoeuvering the locked position and use it diligently. Even then, many advise against these types of leads as a blanket rule.
If you have a sitter or someone coming to walk your dog and using the lift – they may not have the same skill as you have with using the retractable lead. It’s always best to have a shorter fixed-length leash for other non-experienced people to secure your dog correctly.
While you’ve probably been in and out of lifts a thousand times with your dog, it only takes one slip of attention, or the wrong set of circumstances, for potentially tragic results. Don’t let that happen to you.
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