I remember our first dog, when I was around 6 years old. She was a pincher and chihuahua mix with smooth golden fur, we named her Goldie. It was the 70's and I do remember knowing that this adorable dog was the third little miss of the household (I was 2nd Li'l Miss). Even before "forever home" concept or "pack animal" theories my mom had shown us how to love a pet.

She never reached her first birthday with us though, all because of a pellet of mouse poison we mistook for a snack called "Beef curls". My parents brought her to the Vet and came home with a flowery shoe box, Goldie in sweetly sleeping forever.

Back then, there was no way to keep pets safe from poisonous plants or substances (besides we thought dogs knew how to smell danger!). Barriers like a pet gate would have been ideal in keeping Goldie away from the area where the mouse pellets were strewn. Looking back, our house was not ideal for a pet with no safety barriers. Our stairs were thick wooden planks suspended on the banister grill work-it was easy for even us to slip in between the steps and fall. Because of the loss of our first pet dog, I know not to take home safety for granted. Besides, pet gates and barriers come in great designs, no one would think it was ever for the safety of little ones and our dogs.