Being in the electrical services business you may be surprised to see an article like this on our website.  But we see enough of these issues that we thought it was worth posting an article about.

Most homeowners would just assume their home is a safe place for their animals and electrical hazards are almost non-existent.  Unfortunately, this isn’t the case and pets and other animals are seriously injured or killed because of preventable electrical hazards.

Animals really aren’t much different than children. If you don’t watch them, they find a way to get themselves into a predicament. If there is a chance to interact with electrical devices then there is a chance for harm and injury.  It takes very little electricity to cause serious harm or death of an animal. You can be found guilty of negligence if it is determined the accident was easily avoided and could carry a jail term penalty.

 Here Are a Few Tips For Making Your Home “Pet Safe”

• Keep electrical extension cords out of reach.  Extension cords are very appealing to puppies and playful dogs who like to chew.  At the very least, unplug them from outlets when not in use. If you catch your pet chewing on them, quickly discipline them to break the habit. Sometimes bitter apple spray works well as a safe deterrent to chewing.

• Put guards or fencing around your air conditioning and heat pump equipment. If the electrical system is up to code then these items should be fairly safe from harm but some pets will find the strangest things and places to decide to chew on.

• Make sure any high powered lights, including halogen lights, are secure and out of reach when in use. These lights can easily reach over 1000 degrees. A puppy burned by one of these may become traumatized or violent. Just think about how you reacted the last time you burned yourself.

The most sure fire way to keep everyone safe… If you cannot see or touch or feel a potential electrical hazard then you should be pretty safe.  Cosmos Electrical Co. is a full service electrical contractor serving the Greater Toronto Area.  If you need your electrical system inspected, repaired or upgraded please give us a call today!