Forwarded message - for info, please visit
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080621/LIFE/806210316/1052/OPINION01

Safety comes first when boating with your pet

June 21, 2008
Safety comes first when boating with your pet
Staff and wire

Even if your dog is a born swimmer, the pet needs a life vest if you're
going boating this summer.

It could be a long, tiring paddle to shore at an area lake or on the
Missouri River if they fall or jump in or they could get hurt entering
the water and need the support of a vest, says Erin Elm, presentation
manager at Petsmart in Sioux Falls.

"It's still a good safety precaution," she says. The store sells several
vests, which start at about $20, come in neon orange and green and
range in sixes from extra, extra small to extra large.

Recreational boaters are big customers. "They don't want to leave the
dog behind because it is a family member," she says. In the fall,
customers who hunt look for the vests because their dog may have
to go into water to retrieve a bird, she says.

A vest is necessary to keep pets safe on boats or houseboats, say
Robert Keene Sr., vice commander and public education officer of U.S.
Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 7-11 in Berkeley, N.J.

Having a pet on board, especially a dog, is common, Keene says.

"The No. 1 rule is to get a dog a life jacket that fits," he says. "All
your dog stores and boating shops have them."

Some cats will stay aboard boats, depending on how they were
raised, and they should wear a vest, too, he says.

Elm says Petsmart doesn't sell vest specifically for cats but because
the vests have weights listed, they work for both types of pet.

Take stock of your pet

Before buying a vest and taking a dog on a boat, know the dog's
personality and temperament, says Dr. Peter M. Falk of Ocean
County Veterinary Hospital in Lakewood, N.J.

"Not all dogs are good swimmers. You may want to first take them
to a lake or a pool and wade out with them before taking them on
a boat," Falk says.

Introduce dogs slowly to boats.

"Make the boat pet-friendly. People should look at their boat
and ask: 'Is this surface slippery? Will it get hot to walk on?' " Falk
says. "Engine noises may upset some. Take the dog on the boat
while it's docked and start the engine as an introduction."

"Let him walk on and off the boat from the dock. Let him stay in
the boat a little and get used to the motion," Keene says. "Then,
take him out on short trips first."

At all times, have fresh water on board for the dog, Falk says. Pets
can dehydrate faster than people.

On the water

Be sure the dog has been walked before leaving shore and has a
place on board to relieve himself, experts say.

When walking dogs, be careful of their feet, Falk says.

"Asphalt and concrete are very hot for a dog's feet. Sand can be,
too. If it's too hot for us, it's too hot for them," Falk says.

Onboard, animals must have shade, he says.

"It's a good idea to have a basic pet first-aid kit - dressings,
bandages, ointments, creams - onboard," Falk says.

A dog jumping or falling into the water from a moving boat is a
potential danger. Have dogs wear a harness, not a collar, because
it's easier to get them out of the water, Keene says.

Once a dog goes overboard, stop the boat immediately, he says.
The propeller could kill them.

"The last thing you want to do is get into the water," Keene says.
"Use a boat hook - a long pole with a hook on it - and grab the
harness, and pull the dog in."