This time of year we see more families, including their pets spending time outside in their yards, driveways, and garages. For the most part, garages, and garage doors in Ohio are harmless but do pose some dangers to your pets if you aren’t careful. 

From entrapment to injury, in this post we will go over some of the hazards pet owners should be aware of in order to keep their pets safe in and around their garage doors. 

Garage Door Dangers For Pets

You may not realize it, but your garage is actually full of potential hazards to your pet, this includes the garage door itself. Below we have listed a few dangers you should be aware of.

  • Entrapment: Pets, particularly cats and small dogs, can easily become trapped under garage doors or in their mechanisms. This can happen when your pet is trying to follow you around or explore the garage, and the door closes on them before they can escape.
  • Malfunctioning doors: Garage doors can malfunction due to various reasons, such as worn-out parts, poor maintenance, or electrical problems. If a pet is near a malfunctioning garage door, it can be injured or killed if the door falls or closes unexpectedly.
  • Unsecured doors: If a garage door is not properly secured, it can open or close unexpectedly, posing a risk to pets that may be nearby. This can also allow pets to escape, which can be dangerous if they are not familiar with the area or are not wearing identification tags.
  • Heat and cold: Depending on the climate in your area, garages can become extremely hot or cold. Leaving pets in a garage for extended periods of time can lead to heat stroke or hypothermia.
  • Sharp objects: Garages are often full of sharp objects, tools, and other potentially dangerous items that can cause serious injury to pets.

How to Enhance Garage Safety For Your Pets

The Good news is there are simple safety measures that can be taken to prevent these accidents from happening.

  • Install safety sensors: Most modern garage door openers come equipped with safety sensors that detect when something is in the way of the closing door. If these are installed correctly, they will stop and reverse the direction of the door if a pet or any other object is detected. 
  • Keep your pet away from the garage door: It can be tempting to let your pets explore around your home, but it’s crucial to keep them away from garage doors while they’re open or closing. Pets don’t always understand the danger of the moving door and may try to dart underneath it at just the wrong time. 
  • Train your pet: It’s a good idea to train your pet so that they understand basic commands like “stop” “stay” “go” or “Come” when they are near the garage door. This way, you can quickly call them away from the door if it begins to move and help keep them from harm.

Safe Garage Doors in Ohio

By having your garage door safety sensor installed properly and taking the time to train your pet, you can prevent a majority of garage dangers. Whether You have a sneaky cat or an energetic dog it is your responsibility as a pet owner to keep them safe at all times. Former garage door safety and maintenance in Ohio contact our team at Springfield Overhead Door.