Tootsie was a great swimmer, but she almost drowned last week in the family’s swimming pool! The six-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever loved the water and was very adept at scrambling up the pool stairs. But what the Kaye family didn’t realize was that Tootsie used the poolside umbrella table as her point of reference to find the pool stairs…and the table had been moved.
Without this landmark, Tootsie couldn’t locate the stairs. One night while the family was inside eating dinner, Tootsie went for a dip but couldn’t find her way out of the pool. Luckily, a neighbor happened by and discovered the frantic dog swimming in circles and was able to pull her out of the water before it was too late.
Many dogs love to splash in the water on a hot summer day, but since not all dogs are natural swimmers, it’s up to you to keep your dog safe when she’s by the swimming pool, beach or lake. Depending upon your dog’s breed, age or health, a dip in the pool or leap off or a dock could be either a frolicking good time or a brush with death. In fact, over 5,000 dogs drown each year in backyard pools alone! To keep your dog safe this summer when she’s near the water, here are six “layers of protection” you can try: 
