If you have a pet, you know how special
they can be and how they enrich our lives. Whether you own a big,
fluffy cat or a tiny, rambunctious dog, companion animals can provide
health benefits, hours of entertainment and, of
course, companionship and unconditional love.
If you have a pet, you know how special
they can be and how they enrich our lives. Whether you own a big,
fluffy cat or a tiny, rambunctious dog, companion animals can provide
health benefits (i.e. less stress), hours of entertainment and, of
course, companionship and unconditional love. It's always been
important to take good care of your pet and keep him/her safe, and
that's especially true in this day and age due to the popularity of
paper shredders.
Paper shredders have become popular in recent years due to the
increasing prevalence of identity theft. Every year, millions of people
have their credit - and lives - ruined when a thief makes of with their
Social Security numbers, bank account information, and even their very
names. Shredding all of one's unwanted documents (canceled checks, junk
mail, etc.) can greatly reduce the risk of identity theft. However,
shredders can also be very dangerous due to their sharp blades. The
problem is further compounded by these machines' often automatic
operation. Needless to say, your pets can be at risk if you have a
paper shredder in your house. Here's a few tips on how to keep your
pets safe.
- Have your critters vacate the room.
First and foremost, don't use your shredder if your little furball is
in the room with you. As everyone knows, animals are very curious
beings (especially cats). Your companion might be interested in the
noise the machine makes or the sight of the paper entering the device
and thus, will check things out. This can lead to disaster if the
animal is especially inquisitive, but if he/she is out of the room when
you shred, you've just eliminated the chance of them being hurt. Don't
make the phrase "Curiosity killed the cat" a reality!
- Unplug the shredder. Also,
don't leave the machine plugged in when you're not using it. Doing so
will not only prevent your pet's paws, nose, and tail from being
munched up by the machine's blades, he/she won't be able to chew on a
live electrical cord either. This will prevent them from being
electrocuted. (And it will prevent you from needing to replace your
shredder due to a ruined cord.) At the very least, make sure you turn
the device off when you're done with it and don't leave it in
"automatic" mode.
- Look for a device with adequate safety features. More
and more paper shredder manufacturers have become aware of the dangers
their machine can pose. Thus, some of them have started equipping their
products with great safety features that will keep everyone in your
home safe. One such company is Fellowes. Many of their devices have
SafeSense technology that causes operation to cease when body parts get
too close to the feed opening. This can be a great feature to have if
you happen to share your home with animals.
If you follow
these tips, you'll be able to keep your furry friends safe while also
protecting yourself from identity theft. That way, you and your pets
will be able to enjoy a long - and secure - life together.
Article Tags:
Pets Safe, Paper Shredders, Identity Theft