Doggie door tragedy and 18-month-old baby hits close to home when a toddler crawled through and fell into a backyard swimming pool in our Thousand Oaks community. If this story can save one life it's worth the awareness. Doggie doors are just one more way that young children can access a back yard and disaster.
We all know the dangers of swimming pools and that is something that we all take into consideration when we are enjoying the outdoors or just near a pool with a small child. While we hear about safety fencing, door alarms and safety covers it’s not mentioned very often that doggie doors that open to the pool area are just as much a safety concern.
Sweet 17 month old George, passed away last night about 36 hours after he crawled through an 11 x 17 inch dog door and fell into a swimming pool. He was affectionate, curious, and friendly with family and strangers alike, and loved to be cuddled, sung and read to. His life was cut short by something that appears to be so harmless as a doggie door. I knew him and I knew his family and it’s just a tragedy for them.
Passing blame or pointing fingers is not what this post is about. It is about understanding and awareness of the dangers of access to areas such as pools, ponds or other bodies of water and the high potential for drowning.
This is a real story of tragedy that struck a local family this past week and unfortunately it is a real danger all across the country.
As real estate agents we often have listings or possibly showing homes with doggie doors. These open areas to the outside where there could be a pool, street, dog or any other dangers need to be addressed in order to prevent situations like this from happening.
We have all read the safety tips and consumer alerts and awareness for swimming pools and safety for children. Maybe more lists should include “pet or doggie door” access to the backyard as a hazard.
If this awareness can save one life its worth posting and sharing. Here is the local article and more information as well as information on how you can help this family or offer a kind word or prayer.
As scary as it sounds...children's drown without a sound. Special prayers to the little boy and his family.
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