Protecting Your Pet: Boating

Boating is one of the most popular summer activities, and it's not just people heading out on the water. Dogs like being on the boat too.

But before you cruise with your canine we'll show you how to keep your furry friend safe in this weeks protecting your pet.

The sun, the surf, and the speed…Boating is a great way to have fun in the summer! Now more and more people are bringing their four legged friends along for the ride!

"Boat owners are one and a half times more likely to have a pet, so when they go boating, they take their pets with them," Larry Russo, CEO of Russo Marine, said.

But before you start cruising with your canine you need to think about their safety. First make sure your pet is comfortable in the water.

"When you bring the dog to the waters edge, to the beach, you find out right away whether your dog is a water lover or not, so if they're not friendly with the water on the beach, don't bring your dog on the boat," Russo said.

For added pooch protection, especially if your dog is older, a doggy life-jacket is a good idea.

"Older pets also aren't as strong swimmers as they once were and having the extra floatation device around them gives you added comfort," Russo said.

Getting your pet back on board could be tricky...that's where a special animal ladder comes in handy.

"When you are trying to lift a sixty or seventy or eighty pound wet animal-- it's not that easy. So there have been some products manufactured that help dogs, get from the water on top the boat by swimming up to an inclined ramp and pawing there way onto the boat," Russo said.

Also take along a leash, in case you need to keep your dog from jumping off the boat.

And if you follow these simple safety tips, you, your family and your favorite four legged friends can all have a wonderful day on the water!

"Bring the dog with you, bring the kids with you, bring the rest of the family and some neighbors and friends and have fun," Russo said.

(Copyright (c) 2007 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)