KCBS Animal Update: Responsible Dog Ownership Days

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — The American Kennel Club has designated September as a month for reflecting on proper canine care. Dr. Jennifer Scarlett of the San Francisco SPCA talks about the aspects of having a dog that all current and prospective owners should keep in mind.

Think about keeping your dog safe in concentric circles. There are three main ways to do this including; knowing what kind of toxins and pesticides you have and making sure your dog can't get to them.

Next is the most important thing you can teach your dog outside of the house: 100 percent recall. Being hit by a car is the most common trauma for dogs. Making sure your dog comes to you the moment you say its name is important.

Make sure that you socialize your dogs so that they're safe and happy among other dogs and humans.

Beyond that, it's important to remind that spaying or neutering has health benefits for your pet, but also eliminates the burden on shelters for unwanted puppies. It's also pretty common to make sure your pet is licensed and micro chipped so that they can get back to you if they ever get away.

We've got to remember that the world is a crowded place and that we need to clean up after our pets. Make sure you are comfortable and proactive when other people may not be around our dogs.

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