Just A Thought... - YorkieTalk.com Forums

xoxodoglover89 · 01-19-2009, 01:27 PM

I was thinking about this today and I'm just curious if others feel the same way.

One of my jobs, I work at Petsmart in the Pethotel. We run a day camp everyday and we have lots of "regulars" that come every week. With all the snow that we've gotten the past few weeks, there's been TONS of salt laid out in the parking lot. When these poor dogs come in from outside, some of them have such raw pads that they can hardly walk by the time they get in the store! Some are worse than others. We had 2 wiems come in last week to stay for a few days and the owner said when the female jumped out of the car, she started crying and thought something was wrong with her hip. Once we got her in the back, we were able to see that her paws were so raw, red and irriated from the salt that it was unbearable! She was walking funny because the salt was irritating her pads. We had to of washed them at least 3 times to get all the salt off. There was even salt pieces wedged up in between her paw pads. Plus, the paw pads were so raw that they were beginning to crack. We've been seeing this a lot lately with the dogs coming in.

Getting to my point, wouldn't you think that when you're gonna salt a parking lot where a pet store is located within the plaza that the city should use pet safe salt instead? The real stuff is so horrible for their paws. I can't even bare to think how that must feel walking on it. This's just a thought, but me and my manager were talking about it today and I was just curious as to what others think about it.

Pa Yorkie Mom · 01-19-2009, 01:51 PM

IMHO this would be an excellent idea. The problem would probably be that the city would say this is not a cost effective solution, as pet safe salt alternatives are more expensive. Also they would have to send out a special truck loaded with the salt alternative to only do your plaza lot. I doubt they would do that. I personally only use pet safe around my house and right now we have 8 inches of snow from the past couple days and it's still snowing. I wear boots on my retired greyhound and my miniature poodle any time we have to go where there may be real salt used. Just a thought maybe you could sell boots where you work if you already do you could nicely recommend them to customers especially those who bring in dogs already experiencing pad problems.

Ellie May · 01-19-2009, 01:52 PM

Pet safe ice melt or sand should be used in any area where the dogs are going to walk but cars will drag teh other crud in on their tires. This stuff is dangerous not only for their paws, but for them to lick.

I can't wait til winter is over.

KimberlySRN · 01-19-2009, 03:09 PM

That is a great I don't think they would do it because of the cost. I would recommend the doggie boots.

myorkiespoiled · 01-19-2009, 05:49 PM

This is a great thread. I would like to know what is a pet safe salt? I live out in the country so my dogs never walk on salted streets or parking lots but I have a doggy ramp that leads down into my little doggy park and it gets ice covered. My husband put some sea salt on it. My babies paws look fine but I sure don't want to hurt them. Thanks again for posting this thread.

xoxodoglover89 · 01-19-2009, 07:00 PM

I know the city would never go for it because of the cost, but I just feel so bad for the dogs that have to walk through the parking lot and get severely raw pads because of it.

yorkiesmiles · 01-19-2009, 08:54 PM

Is it really the city that is cleaning & salting the parking lot? I would highly doubt it, unless your city is very different than most. I would think that the shopping strip or plaza where your store is contracts with an independent company. That is where you need to start - with the owners of the plaza - and with your store manager to fight this battle for these dogs. Most people are not thinking about the dogs, they are thinking about the cars & pedestrians walking in the lot

DukesMommy · 01-19-2009, 09:26 PM

It doesn't snow where I live so I've never had to deal with that. I didn't even know that salt hurts dogs feet. But, I think that if it's harmful to the animals then they should use a safe alternative everywhere.

msjagg · 01-19-2009, 09:35 PM

I know Lancaster, Pa. does not want to spend the extra$$. When I volunteered a few years ago at the animal Shelter. People would call and ask us to salt areas that there dogs walked on.. We told them the call City Hall and Penndot. They were told that they have x amount of $$ alloted for each snow fall and that there is no extra $$ to deal with the problem. Around our house and the houses that have pets we all us pet safe salt. I feed 13 outdide strays and we salt out in the street after the plows go through so that these cats are safe too!! It costs extra...But, I'm paying for it!!

01-19-2009, 01:27 PM	#1
xoxodoglover89 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 747	Just A Thought... I was thinking about this today and I'm just curious if others feel the same way. One of my jobs, I work at Petsmart in the Pethotel. We run a day camp everyday and we have lots of "regulars" that come every week. With all the snow that we've gotten the past few weeks, there's been TONS of salt laid out in the parking lot. When these poor dogs come in from outside, some of them have such raw pads that they can hardly walk by the time they get in the store! Some are worse than others. We had 2 wiems come in last week to stay for a few days and the owner said when the female jumped out of the car, she started crying and thought something was wrong with her hip. Once we got her in the back, we were able to see that her paws were so raw, red and irriated from the salt that it was unbearable! She was walking funny because the salt was irritating her pads. We had to of washed them at least 3 times to get all the salt off. There was even salt pieces wedged up in between her paw pads. Plus, the paw pads were so raw that they were beginning to crack. We've been seeing this a lot lately with the dogs coming in. Getting to my point, wouldn't you think that when you're gonna salt a parking lot where a pet store is located within the plaza that the city should use pet safe salt instead? The real stuff is so horrible for their paws. I can't even bare to think how that must feel walking on it. This's just a thought, but me and my manager were talking about it today and I was just curious as to what others think about it. Last edited by xoxodoglover89; 01-19-2009 at 01:28 PM.

01-19-2009, 01:51 PM	#2
Pa Yorkie Mom YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 384	great idea IMHO this would be an excellent idea. The problem would probably be that the city would say this is not a cost effective solution, as pet safe salt alternatives are more expensive. Also they would have to send out a special truck loaded with the salt alternative to only do your plaza lot. I doubt they would do that. I personally only use pet safe around my house and right now we have 8 inches of snow from the past couple days and it's still snowing. I wear boots on my retired greyhound and my miniature poodle any time we have to go where there may be real salt used. Just a thought maybe you could sell boots where you work if you already do you could nicely recommend them to customers especially those who bring in dogs already experiencing pad problems.

01-19-2009, 01:52 PM	#3
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	Pet safe ice melt or sand should be used in any area where the dogs are going to walk but cars will drag teh other crud in on their tires. This stuff is dangerous not only for their paws, but for them to lick. I can't wait til winter is over. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

01-19-2009, 03:09 PM	#4
KimberlySRN Twins=double the fun! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 2,981	That is a great I don't think they would do it because of the cost. I would recommend the doggie boots. __________________ Kim Anakin Bella

01-19-2009, 05:49 PM	#5
myorkiespoiled Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dexter, Missouri USA Posts: 40	This is a great thread. I would like to know what is a pet safe salt? I live out in the country so my dogs never walk on salted streets or parking lots but I have a doggy ramp that leads down into my little doggy park and it gets ice covered. My husband put some sea salt on it. My babies paws look fine but I sure don't want to hurt them. Thanks again for posting this thread. __________________ Mary and Zaira

01-19-2009, 07:00 PM	#6
xoxodoglover89 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 747	I know the city would never go for it because of the cost, but I just feel so bad for the dogs that have to walk through the parking lot and get severely raw pads because of it.

01-19-2009, 08:54 PM	#7
yorkiesmiles Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,493	Is it really the city that is cleaning & salting the parking lot? I would highly doubt it, unless your city is very different than most. I would think that the shopping strip or plaza where your store is contracts with an independent company. That is where you need to start - with the owners of the plaza - and with your store manager to fight this battle for these dogs. Most people are not thinking about the dogs, they are thinking about the cars & pedestrians walking in the lot __________________ yorkiesmiles Loved by Bubba & Roxy *Holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come*

01-19-2009, 09:26 PM	#8
DukesMommy YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: CA Posts: 682	It doesn't snow where I live so I've never had to deal with that. I didn't even know that salt hurts dogs feet. But, I think that if it's harmful to the animals then they should use a safe alternative everywhere. __________________ Kati,Duke,and Lucie

01-19-2009, 09:35 PM	#9
msjagg YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Lancaster, PA. U.S.A. Posts: 1,449	I know Lancaster, Pa. does not want to spend the extra$$. When I volunteered a few years ago at the animal Shelter. People would call and ask us to salt areas that there dogs walked on.. We told them the call City Hall and Penndot. They were told that they have x amount of $$ alloted for each snow fall and that there is no extra $$ to deal with the problem. Around our house and the houses that have pets we all us pet safe salt. I feed 13 outdide strays and we salt out in the street after the plows go through so that these cats are safe too!! It costs extra...But, I'm paying for it!! __________________ Jodi G. Mum to : -Sammy,:-Baron Georg, :-Sophie Kennedy, and Carys Bella...