As the weather gets warmer your pets may begin to spend more time outside than they did over the winter. Don’t take their security for granted. Before you turn your furry friends loose outside, make sure that your yard is fit to contain them. 

If you have family members and service professionals coming and going from your home during the day, think about how you can ensure your pets don’t get forgotten in the commotion. Here are some simple tips for keeping your pets outside and secure in your yard.

Check your fence line

Fence posts or panels may have shifted or come loose due to heavy snow or erosion from rain. Do a perimeter check to ensure that your fence is sturdy and intact. Keep an eye out for any areas where your pets could sneak out underneath the fence or between panels. Make any repairs or reinforcements before you start letting your pets out.

Make sure your gate closes securely

Over time the hinges on your gate may begin to sag or the latch may become excessively stiff or loose, preventing it from closing securely. If this is the case, the gate may come loose on its own and your pets could escape. Evaluate whether your gate is trustworthy. If you struggle to open and close it, your gardener or dog walker might as well. Don’t let your pets roam free in the yard until you’ve had it repaired. 

Consider posting a notice on your gate to gently remind your gardener, tenant, or housekeeper to make sure it’s properly latched when they go in and out. 

Pets should be tagged and microchipped

In the off-chance that your pets do escape from your yard, the information on their tags and microchips will help them be returned to you. This only works if it’s up-to-date though. If you’ve recently moved or changed phone numbers, call the microchip company to update your profile.

Next, check that your pets have current tags on their collars. In Massachusetts, dogs are required to wear a rabies tag and a dog license on their collar at all times. They should also wear a tag with your phone number in case they get lost.  

Assign timed access codes 

If you have service professionals coming and going from your home or yard, you might consider incorporating keyless access codes into your home security strategy. These codes will be active for a certain window of time and you’ll receive a notification when the person has entered and exited your home.

This makes it easy to keep tabs on when your kids get home from school, whether your dog walker shows up, and more. In the event of an incident, you’ll be able to refer to the log and see who had visited your home surrounding the event.   

Pets are part of the family and your home security strategy should account for them. These tips are a great place to start. If you have additional concerns, American Alarm representatives will be happy to help you find solutions.

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