Keeping Cats and Dogs Indoors and out of Harm's Way—Not Impulsive Retaliation—Is a Solution That Everyone Can Live With, Says Group
For Immediate Release:
November 4, 2011
Contact:
Adam Miller 202-483-7382
Bettendorf, Iowa -- Following recent reports that a Chihuahua was attacked by a bobcat in Bettendorf, PETA is offering advice to cat and dog guardians to help them protect their animal companions from deadly encounters with wildlife. PETA asks that you share the following lifesaving information with your audience.
Often when there is a rise in wildlife attacks on companion animals, communities respond by killing the suspected animal or indiscriminately killing several animals of the suspected animal's species. Not only is this approach inhumane, it also does nothing to safeguard cats and dogs because other wildlife moves in to take the place of those killed. The best way to protect cats and dogs is by keeping them indoors, thus reducing the chances of either species being harmed.
The following are measures that residents can take to prevent an attack on their cats and dogs by wild animals:
- Never leave your animals in a yard unattended, even during the day. Many people mistakenly believe that coyotes are nocturnal and hunt only at night, but they are often out during the day.
- Keep cats indoors at all times.
- Walk dogs on short leashes, keeping them close to you. Carry an air horn.
- Store all trash and compost in sealed containers (use bungee cords to secure the lids), pick up fallen fruit, refrain from feeding companion animals outdoors, and never feed wildlife.
- Trim back vegetation to reduce hiding places, and use motion-activated sprinklers, flashing lights, and outdoor radios to keep coyotes away.
"There's no need to declare a war on wildlife if guardians simply take a few precautions to safeguard their animals from attacks before they occur," says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. "Human development is pushing wildlife into urban areas, so we owe it to these animals to make sure that their new home is safe—for them as well as for our cats and dogs."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.