BBQ Safety for Pets
I hope you all are taking some time this summer to relax outdoors. One of my favorite parts of summer is having dinner on the back deck. It’s lovely to sit back there in the evening shade and hang out with our pups. August sits underneath his favorite tree, watching over his toys and keeping an eye out for that pesky groundhog. Mort keeps his paws clean by staying on the deck under the shade of the umbrella. Scout drops saliva soaked tennis balls at our feet, demanding that we throw them for her. Lottie crawls over the fence into the backyard to make an appearance and then settles in on the neighbor’s roof to relax in the last bit of evening sun. (We have incredibly patient neighbors.) This tranquil scene is brought to you by this list of BBQ safety tips for pets. There is nothing that can ruin a lovely meal outdoors, like a scary BBQ pet interaction. To keep the peace, follow these BBQ safety tips.
Keep Pets Away from Grill
This is a no-brainer, but keep your pets away from the barbeque. The National Fire Prevention Association suggests at least three feet. You should also avoid leaving the grill unattended. Even the most well-behaved pet will be tempted by an abandoned hot dog. The reality is that you often forget something in the house while grilling and need to grab the BBQ sauce or an extra plate. It may be easiest to keep your pets indoors while you are cooking or invest in some walky-talkies to call into the kitchen for backup BBQ sauce without leaving the grill.
Another preventative measure is to make sure your grill is sturdy. Be careful with portable versions. We have one with wheels on the bottom, and we often forget to lock them before we start cooking. If they are mobile, they are less stable against a pup jumping on them.
Store Tasty Tools
It’s essential to keep your BBQ tools away from your pets. Skewers and sharp tools are dangerous for pups and when coated with delicious meat flavored juices your pet may look past the danger for a yummy lick or two. They will be super motivated, so it will take more than hanging them on the side of the grill or keeping them up on a table.
Some options include:
- Tall buckets – You can also sink them into the center of a picnic table to keep them further out of reach
- A wall-mounted cabinet with doors.
- A tray with a high lip
- Hanging them in a place high enough, your pet can’t reach them.
Wooden skewers can also be dicey. If you are serving them to guests create a disposal plan that keeps them out of reach from your pets.
It’s a Wrap
Plastic, aluminum, or even beeswax wrap covered in yummy bbq flavors can be tempting and terrible for the digestive system. Put them directly in a covered trash bin or a place where they can’t be reached.
The Fat Trap Temptation
I repeatedly surprise myself that there is a fat trap under the grill, but I am reminded when I spill it while changing out the propane or moving it around the deck. I don’t know why it’s easy to forget, but it doesn’t slip the minds of my pups. If they get access to it, there will be a gastrointestinal disaster.
If you do spill grease (new or super old), make sure to really clean it up. A pebble coated in BBQ grease could look delicious to your pet.
Trash and Ash
The trash can near the bbq is going to collect all the delicious dangers like foil, plastic wrap, and chicken bones. Make sure you keep a tight lid on it. If you empty used charcoal in a bucket or trash can, make sure to keep a tight lid on that too!
Scrap the Table Scraps
I am not here to judge anyone on feeding their pups from the table. We do not do it because the begging is super annoying, and with multiple pets, we want to avoid any potential food aggression. The BBQ factor increases concern. The number one rule in BBQ safety for pets, don’t let them eat bones. It’s easy to forget about them after you have finished your meal. Add a couple of cocktails to the mix, and you will not notice when fido slips a chicken bone from your plate.
The Corn Cobb Incident
My husband used to give corn cobbs to his dogs in supervised situations as chewing toys. While he was still getting to know Scout, he rewarded her with a corn cobb treat. Scout surprised him by eating the entire corn cobb in two bites or more like two swallows. As you can imagine, chaos ensued. Scout ended up being okay thanks to her ironclad stomach, but it was the last corn cobb she will ever meet. In general, corn cobbs can be a choking hazard and should be avoided. You know your dog and can use that intel to keep them safe. If they are food motivated, keep them away from distracted guests. If they are counter-surfers, create a boundary between them and the BBQ.
Create a Safe Place
You can enjoy the BBQ season with your pets if you put a few safeguards in place. Similar to creating pet-friendly spaces indoors, if you want to keep your pups away from a particular area, create another fun area just for them.
Give them some shade, interactive toys, and let them have their own BBQ moment with a DIY Broth Popsicle.
Here is a recipe from one of my favorite (human) cookbook authors, Chungah Rhee. My biggest celebrity crush is on her two Corgis Butters and Cartman. For a daily dose of joy, follow them on Instagram.
And here is the recipe:
Happy Grilling!
