Here are some tips to keep your pet safe in the confines of her own home —

1. Remove candy or nuts from locations where pets can reach them. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and nuts can be dangerous by ingesting or choking.

2. If moth balls are used, keep pets away from those areas.

3. Keep the toilet seat down.

4. Check the security of the garbage can. Chicken bones, foil food wrappers, batteries, etc can be life threatening.

5. See that medications are locked up. The sound of pills rattling in a plastic bottle may entice the pet to chew the bottle open.

6. Household cleaners, furniture polishes, disinfectants, insecticides, antifreeze, fertilizers, perfumes and make-up can be dangerous to pets. Make sure all storage areas are secure.

7. Check to see that any hobby supplies like paints, glue, needles and thread, etc. have been placed away from an inquisitive pet’s reach.

When pets are home alone without interaction of toys or other things to occupy their time, they tend to get bored — and curious! Things you think she would not normally do, may happen to relieve boredom.