State Farm® Provides Tips for Safely Sheltering at Home with Pets

The coronavirus pandemic has introduced a good deal of uncertainty into our lives, as well as our pets. As people shelter at home, adopt new pets or foster dogs for sick family and friends, now is the time to reinforce safety and responsible pet ownership.

National Dog Bite Prevention Week (NDBPW) is April 12-18, 2020. As a member of the National Dog Bite Prevention Week® Coalition, State Farm joins the the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), American Humane, and the dog behavior expert Victoria Stilwell to draw attention to how people can reduce the number of dog bites.

Last year, State Farm alone paid $146 million dollars for 3,340 dog bite and injury claims. Many of these incidents could have been prevented.

According to Stilwell, the coronavirus pandemic has affected pets too.

“Dogs that are used to kids being at school and adults at work are now finding themselves surrounded by their families 24/7,” says Stilwell. “Most welcome the company, but some dogs are having a hard time adjusting to the constant noise, attention and lack of space.”

Stress can affect pets and cause them to feel anxiety. In some cases, dogs will exhibit anxious behaviors like barking, aggressive or destructive behavior.

Here are some tips to help you and your pets cope while sheltering at home.

• Create a "dog only" zone. This den-like space or ‘safe zone’ can be a crate where the door always remains open or a quiet location for your dog when they need some space.
• Supervise small children around any dog. To make it easier, you can use baby gates to keep dogs and kids separated if you can’t actively supervise them.
• Teach your dog some new skills. It's a great time to challenge your dog to learn new cues. If you need the help of a trainer, many now offer virtual consultations.
• Keep dogs on a leash, if you can take your dog out for a walk. Do not allow your pet to socially interact with other dogs or people. While humans are observing social distancing rules, help your dogs do the same.
• Have a plan in place for your pets. If you become too sick or require hospitalization, someone will need to take care of your animals while you heal. Just like any disaster preparedness plan, have a “bug out” bag prepared.

State Farm is one of the few insurance companies that does not have a breed restriction list. The company does not exclude homeowner or renter insurance coverage because of the breed of dog owned. State Farm joined forces with the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training and Behavior to create the free online course Being Good Pet Neighbor. It educates owners about being responsible with pets.

Coloring Pages for At-Home Education