We love to bring our dogs with us when we go outside.
It’s good for them to get used to the outside world as they also learn to socialize with people and other dogs. Taking them out on a walk or whenever you go for a grocery run also trains them how to behave in public places.
However, doing so also entails a responsibility to make sure they are safe.
Sometimes we can’t keep an eye on them, and accidents could happen. At some point, taking them out is more of a lesson for us. When something terrible happens to our dogs, we can only hope strangers are there to help.
Fernando Santos never thought he’d be a hero that day.
He was busy scrolling through his phone as he entered the building and waited for the elevator. Standing, waiting, scrolling – that’s all he did…
…until he glanced away from his phone, looked up, and saw a dog needing help.
Fernando reached up to the dog, unbuckling him from his harness. The poor dog must have been there for a while and didn’t know what to do. It didn’t bark nor budge, so he was probably too scared or stressed to bark.
It was also a relief that he wore a harness, not a collared leash.
The worst case scenario, had it been a collared leash, is that the dog might have choked to death. Fernando couldn’t believe his situation and was just happy he had saved the dog. He later found out that the dog’s owner had their hands full carrying packages and overlooked their dear pooch.
This story is a reminder to always look after your dogs in elevators and escalators.
It’s ideal and safer to carry your dog when getting inside an elevator or on an escalator. If they’re on a leash, bring it closer to you so they won’t dangle and get caught with the machine’s mechanism. You can also place them in a bag or trolley.
If you have big dogs or have other things to carry, you can take note of these safety tips:
- Keep the leash and your dog close to you before getting in an elevator or off an escalator.
- For elevator rides, allow people to go out first before you get in. Also, make sure you let your dog go inside before you so you can keep the door open as they make their way in.
- Guide them to sit in the corner and stay still.
- When exiting the elevator, hold the door and make sure your dog is entirely out.
- Loosen the leash only if you’re already at a safe distance away from the elevator or escalator.
- When getting on and off the escalator, you can do a little hop so your dog will follow.
And another lesson: don’t be too glued to your phone.
Look around and be vigilant because you’ll never know what you see. There might be someone or something that needs your help. Or somebody might sneak up and snatch your phone or bag, and you’ll be the one needing some help.
Watch the full clip of how Fernando saved the dog from the elevator!
