Scheduling a remodeling project? To protect your pooch from scattered nails and earsplitting noises, make pet safety part of the plan. Start with your contractor—find out if they are willing to work with a dog in the house. Can your dog make friends with the crew, and vice versa? If not, you might need to find your pet a temporary home out of the house.
Consider your pet’s temperament: Some dogs react negatively to strangers wreaking havoc in their homes. “Dogs that are fearful do not adapt well to changes in their environment,” says Mary Hirshfeld, a retired dog trainer in upstate New York. “When I had my own home worked on, however, my four dogs all thought it was a blast. I had to put them outside, to prevent them from bursting into the work area to say hi.”
Ways to Keep Your Pet Safe During a Home Renovation
Here are some ways you can ensure your pet’s health and safety during a home renovation.
Invite everybody to make friends
Michael Kennedy, a partner in Latipac Builders in Newfield, NY, makes nice with clients’ dogs, so when he and his crew arrive on the job site, the pups can’t wait to greet them. Kennedy encourages them with owner-approved dog treats and even lets his new four-legged friends get a few licks in. But keep in mind contractors are not pet sitters. Even pet-loving builders will be annoyed by dogs that roam the site, bark incessantly, or beg for lunch. But making friends with the crew yourself can help keep your pets safe and healthy.
“Renovation is stressful for humans who fully understand what the turmoil is all about. Imagine what it’s like for a pet that has no idea why her world is suddenly being turned upside down.”—Karen Halligan, veterinarian and author of Doc Halligan’s What Every Pet Owner Should Know
One homeowner got to know each crew member personally during his renovation by preparing lunch for them every day. Establishing personal relationships with the people working on the house not only made the process more comfortable for him, but it also made the crew more mindful of his dog’s well-being.
Establish a tranquil safe zone
Open doors and missing windows may invite your dog to make a break for it, away from the chaos of the work site and noisy circular saws, so if you haven’t already, talk to your vet about microchipping your pet before knocking down any walls. This simple, inexpensive procedure, much like a vaccination, can often mean the difference between lost and found when a dog heads for the hills.
Create a construction-free space to keep pets away from sawdust, power equipment, and other hazards. Wherever you put your pet, bring along familiar toys, blankets, and dog treats. Play soothing music or turn on the TV to try to drown out the construction noise.
Consider getting them offsite
All dogs are sensitive to noise, but for those that cower when thunder booms, set up a dog playdate elsewhere, leave them with a neighbor, take them to work, or drop them at doggie day care. Just make sure these dogs are out of earshot. “One owner put the dog in the car, a familiar space he was comfortable in, which was parked in the driveway, and the dog became so terrified of the loud noises coming from the house that he broke out through the window and took off,” says Kennedy. “This was a severely thunder-phobic dog, so the construction noise was extremely stressful.”
Be mindful of hazardous materials
Ask the crew to put anything that may be toxic or poisonous inside a latched cabinet or out of reach. Be wary of stray electrical wires that pups might gnaw on, and unstable stacks of wood and other materials dogs might knock over with the shake of a tail. Owners should also protect dogs from noxious fumes and dust. Be sure to have sufficient ventilation; in the case of a long-term renovation, air purifiers can help while the dust settles.
To protect paws, ask workers to sweep floors with a magnet when they leave each night. That will pick up nails, metal shavings, and anything else that might create a hazard if dogs do get into the construction area.
Homes built before 1978 should be tested for lead before undergoing any major renovations. As in humans, ingestion and inhalation of lead paint or dust can cause ataxia, tremors, and other neurological deficits in pets. Insulation is also a potential hazard; fiberglass fibers can cause significant oral or gastrointestinal inflammation if ingested.
Show them a little extra TLC
Dogs thrive on routine, and when their routine gets disrupted they can act out in undesirable ways—relieving themselves in the house or even displaying aggressive behavior. So stick to your pet’s regular schedule as much as possible. In addition, take regular breaks outside for some extra playtime. Not only will it allow your dog to burn off some nervous energy, but it’s also a great way to alleviate the stress of a home reno for you, too.