In Arizona, many of us see our dogs and cats as much more than pets - they're members of our family. We want to keep them safe, especially from threats around our home.
Threats to Your Pets in Arizona
Coyotes are a fairly common threat to dogs and outdoor cats in Arizona. While they're mostly found in rural areas, I've seen them more and more in residential areas.
LostPetResearch.com has seen many pets go missing over the years.
Coyotes are opportunistic predators, and if your dog or cat is outside alone, coyotes will only see your beloved pet as prey. Coyotes have been known to attack medium-sized and large dogs, especially at night or during dawn and dusk.
Small dogs and cats can be carried off by a coyote, and the owner may never realize what happened.
Keep Your Pets Safe from Coyotes
Vetster.com has some advice on keeping your pets safe from coyotes:
When you're out with your dog, stay clear of areas with dense vegetation and tall grass. Coyotes may be hiding and attacking without warning.Never leave your dogs outside alone. Coyotes are very active at night, and in the early evening and morning, so be sure to bring your dogs inside at night.If you have a fenced yard, make sure it is secure all the way around. Double-check to make sure there are no gaps or holes where coyotes can get in, or where your dog could get out and cross paths with a coyote.Do not feed your dog outside or leave food or water bowls out. You could be feeding creatures OTHER than your dog!Cats are Better Indoors
A lot of cat owners in Arizona prefer to keep their cats indoors. For a myriad of health reasons, it's better for your cat, and it will keep them out of reach of coyotes and birds of prey that may easily snatch your cat from your yard.
LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state
Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.
Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.
LOOK: Most commonly seen birds in Arizona
Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen in Arizona from Project FeederWatch.
LOOK: Here are the states where you are most likely to hit an animal
Hitting an animal while driving is a frightening experience, and this list ranks all 50 states in order of the likelihood of such incidents happening, in addition to providing tips on how to avoid them.
