As a pet owner, caring for your furry companion is a top priority. If your home has a garage door, there are certain steps you can take to protect your canine or feline friend. Here are a few suggestions to help your pet stay safe.

How to Keep a Pet Safe Around Garage Doors

1. Test the Door’s Safety Features

Garage door manufacturers equip their products with safety features that protect humans and pets. One of these is a reversing mechanism, which stops the door from closing when its sensors detect an obstructing object. You should test this feature regularly for proper operation.

Open the garage door, place a soft object, such as a rolled bath towel or a roll of paper towels, across its threshold and start closing the door. The overhead door’s sensors should recognize the object’s presence and reverse closing automatically. If the door doesn’t reverse, it needs service by a garage door repair professional as soon as possible.

2. Provide a Pet Door

If you leave the garage door partially opened so that your pet can move in and out, the animal and the door are at risk. Overhead doors have springs that prevent forceful closings.

A door that’s not open or closed completely for an extended time creates unnecessary tension on the springs. Older springs have less tension, allowing the door to sag, which creates a hazard for your dog or cat. Swap your current door for one featuring a pet door to give your furry friends an easy and safe way to move in and out.

3. Don’t Tie the Pet To the Door

Open or closed, a garage door and its components are unsafe places to tie a leash. Your pet can injure themselves, damage the door’s tracks, or create a misalignment by pulling and tugging. If you tie your pet outside, secure them far enough away from the door so that they can’t interfere with its functions. 

To increase your pet’s safety and security when they’re near your garage door, turn to Crossville Door Company in Cumberland County, TN. This garage door service and repair team offers products with state-of-the-art features that protect humans and pets. Their well-trained professional technicians have extensive installation, maintenance, and repair experience. For more information, stop by the store or call (931) 484-8586.