A fenced backyard may feel safe. It isn’t risk-free.
Responsible pet guardianship means supervising dogs outdoors and keeping cats indoors or safely contained in a catio or walked on-leash. Wildlife is only one part of the picture. Free-roaming and unattended pets can encounter hazards created by people, other animals and the environment itself.
Dogs left alone in yards can escape, ingest toxic substances, encounter other dogs, become injured or stolen, cause property damage, or interact with wildlife.
And a fence does not guarantee containment. Dogs and cats may climb or jump over fencing, dig underneath it, squeeze through openings, or escape through an unsecured gate. Birds of prey such as owls and hawks can fly into a backyard regardless of barriers.
Wireless or “invisible” fencing is not the same as a secure physical fence. It may deter a trained dog from crossing a boundary, but it cannot physically prevent a dog from leaving—particularly if the dog is frightened, excited or motivated to chase something. Just as importantly, it provides no physical barrier to stop wildlife, roaming dogs, other animals or people from entering the property.
Whether a yard has traditional fencing or a wireless boundary, a fence is not a substitute for supervision.
Free-roaming cats face an even broader range of hazards, including vehicles, poisons, traps, dogs, disease and parasites, extreme weather, human cruelty and encounters with wildlife.
There is another side to responsible pet guardianship: free-roaming pets can also create risks for others. Cats may hunt and kill birds, small mammals and other native wildlife. Unsupervised dogs can chase or injure wildlife, bite people or other animals, escape from properties, or damage neighbouring property.
That isn't the pet's fault. It is our responsibility.
Dogs and cats are behaving as animals do. They cannot understand property lines, wildlife conservation, municipal bylaws or the consequences of an encounter. We do.
Responsible guardianship means preventing our companion animals from being placed in situations where they can harm themselves, another animal or another person.
Don't Assume Wildlife Is Responsible
When a pet goes missing or is found injured or deceased, wildlife is sometimes immediately blamed—particularly coyotes. But possibility is not proof. The choice to open the door and let our pets out into the ecosystem is ours and ours alone.
Free-roaming and unattended pets are exposed to many hazards: vehicles, other domestic animals, toxins, traps, disease, becoming lost or trapped, human activity and, yes, encounters with wildlife.
Wildlife involvement is one possibility among many. Unless there is reliable evidence showing what occurred, we should not assign responsibility to a wild animal simply because that species lives in the area or has been seen nearby.
The most effective response is prevention: reduce the opportunities for any of these hazards to affect our companion animals in the first place.
Quick Pet-Safety Checklist
✓ Supervise pets outdoors — even in a fenced backyard.
✓ Leash dogs on walks and maintain control around people, pets and wildlife.
✓ Check fences and gates regularly for gaps, damage, digging or possible climbing/escape points.
✓ Don't rely on wireless fencing as a physical barrier or substitute for supervision.
✓ Keep cats indoors or use a secure catio for safe outdoor enrichment.
✓ Remove attractants such as outdoor pet food, unsecured garbage and overflowing birdseed.
✓ Never intentionally allow pets to chase or harass wildlife.
✓ Know where your pet is — responsible guardianship starts with prevention.
Supervision is prevention.
Go outside with your dog. Keep them within sight and under control. Keep cats indoors or provide safe outdoor enrichment through a secure catio. Our pets depend on us to make responsible choices for them. When we care for our pets with intention and make room for wildlife with respect, we create safer, kinder communities for every living being who calls them home.
Protect your pets. Protect people. Protect wildlife. Practise responsible guardianship.
