The arrival of my new puppy brought both joy and angst into my otherwise sedate life. One thing I knew was that my house was not ready for the onslaught of puppydom. Klamath is a community where pets are prevalent, and there was lots of help for me and my four-legged companion.
My backyard was already fenced. That was a plus for containing a new puppy. Getting him to go up and down the four stairs from the house into the backyard proved difficult. He was able to come up the stairs fine, but I had to carry him down every time he needed to go outside. Alicia McBride, Pro-Trainer at PetCo, made a suggestion that proved to be a blessing. She said that the four concrete steps appear as one to a dog’s vision. Changing the textures of every other step would help. Two teak mats did the trick and T-Rex was up and down on his own.
The next convenience for me was getting him to go in and out on his own. I checked into various types of doggie doors. The simple and inexpensive solution for my sliding glass door was an insert that is readily accessible at various home-improvement stores around town. They are easy for dogs and other pets to use, come in various sizes, and are easy to install. Easy if it fits that is. The molding around my door made even the smallest insert too big. I discovered, too, that I while the panel was in place, I could no longer lock my sliding glass door, and I had to bypass the alarm on that door unless I removed the panel. It also made the people-space for getting in and out smaller. Basin Glass and Aluminum had a custom doggie door option. These Pet Sliding Door Conversion Kits come in four sizes, are more expensive and require a professional to install, but they are well-worth the investment. Stan came to my house and took measurements. Because only the glass panel is replaced, there are no changes to the functioning of the door. T-Rex loves the freedom he has, and I enjoy the freedom I have. He’s safe in the fenced-in backyard. This is a sure win-win for any pet owner.
Indoor Dog Walks in Klamath Falls
Coastal
1776 Avalon Street
Diamond Home Improvement
2380 South 6th Street
Grange Coop
2525 Washburn Way
Home Depot
6451 South 6th Street
PetCo
2840 South 6th Street
Sally-Ann Palcovich has lived in Klamath Falls for 20 years. T-Rex, her Coton de Tulear, joined her in June of this year. Together they have attended training classes at both Double C and PetCo. Sally-Ann retired two years ago and now enjoys volunteering with Assistance League, PEO, and the Linkville Theater. She moved here when she was offered a job at Sky Lakes Medical Center. She has lived in Klamath Falls longer than any other place she has lived. What keeps her here? The warmth of the people and their generosity along with the ability to make a difference and do the right thing and never feel unwelcome.
Written by Sally-Ann Palcovich
