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Baby Gates
Warning
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Just when you thought you were being safe...
Puppies and babies - sometimes hard to tell who is harder to keep track of. Having "experienced" both, I'd say puppies! We do our best to plan ahead, think of every possible situation before it happens, and endeavour to keep them safe. However, even in the best of circumstances, accidents can happen.
Baby gates, also known as safety gates, are commonly used to confine puppies (and babies!) to "safe" areas in the home or in the case of potty-breaking puppies, non-carpeted areas. In this article, Carol Kufner, Canine Graphic Artist and breeder of German Shepherds, shares a recent experience with a puppy and a baby gate so that others may benefit and learn from the tragic experience.
Hi All:
I feel I must warn you all of a potential doggie danger.
On Sunday, June 3rd, I received a phone call from one of my puppy buyers.
In tears this wonderful caring man told me of how he and his wife went out for an hour on Saturday evening and left their puppy "Max" in the kitchen. They had puppy proofed the entire kitchen OR SO THEY THOUGHT. They had put up one of those child gates to block Max from getting out of the kitchen. The wooden ones that open and close like an accordion. They came home to find that little 9-week-old Max had strangled when his head became lodged in one of the openings in the gate. Between him crying, his wife crying and now me crying, all this man could manage to get out was "I'm sorry; I'm sorry. He was a wonderful puppy; it's my fault."
Obviously, this was not his fault; it was an accident, and I told him so as I tried to console him. This is a very very sad tale that should be told to anyone who uses this type of gate or is thinking of purchasing this type of gate to contain their puppy or even small dog. Any dog, who could get his head lodged in the openings.
In memory of little MAX, please, please, please, spread the word on the dangers of certain child gates.
Carol Kufner
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