Petiquette

Laura Staley said, “Pets bring vital energy to our homes and lives. Pets communicate many messages about love and connection. Care tenderly for all pets throughout their precious lives. The interspecies dance of love softens and expands the heart.”

Having pets soften our hearts and make our worse days bearable; they love us unconditionally and are not afraid to show it to us. They do not expect us to change because, in our pet's eyes, we are perfect. After all, we are the most important people in our little friends' world.

Now, having a pet requires a lot from us, such as loving them, grooming them, and feeding them. And the way our little furry friends behave in society is our responsibility that we should not take lightly.

Here are few etiquette tips for pet owners to remember:

If Guests are visiting:

• If you have a large dog, you need to warn people when they come to your house if they are scared of large dogs.

• Let people know you have a cat or dog in case they are allergic. If so, make sure you put the animal away and even sweep-up the cat/dog hair before they arrive if you can.

• If you know someone who doesn’t like cats, don’t let your catwalk all over them. Put the cat outside or in another room.

At any time, if your guest becomes fearful (especially a child), place your pet in another room ASAP.

Don’t bring your pet to someone’s house without asking first.

When we take them out:

• Clean after your dog. Bring several bags on your walks to be sure you have enough. If you run out, either come back and clean it up later or ask another walker if they have a bag to spare.

• Prevent barking. Practice getting your dog’s attention to easily redirect him if he barks at people or other dogs.

• Only let your dog greet a stranger if they ask. The same rule applies if you see another dog and owner approaching. Ask first and respect the other’s response.

• Always leash your dog on walks. Not everyone is comfortable around dogs. Keep your dog close to you and stay alert to others.

• Be aware of other people's feelings if your dog does something to upset someone (jumping up, barking), apologize to them, and take measures to prevent the situation from reoccurring.