How fortunate you have been in the past - your little one was found before it suffered the horrible fate of a long and painful death.

There is no circumstance that would justify leaving our pets outside without supervision, even more so when they have access to a pond or pool. I personally tried to revive my frantic neighbour's sweet Corgi after she discovered him at the bottom of her pool...even with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, he didn't make it. She thought it was O.K. to leave him outside when she went shopping, as "he had never attempted to go into the pool before". Sadly, there is a first time for everything, and the animals pay the price.

It is hard to comprehend that owners do not see the multitude of dangers our pets face when left alone outdoors. Who is to say they can outrun an eagle, coyote, dog, or even a human who could do harm or steal them away? And why would we even contemplate taking that chance?

As the guardians of these precious beings, we must make it our first and foremost responsibility to supervise their outdoor activities. That is the implicit contract we sign when we take on the care of our animals...our lives must be adjusted to accommodate their needs, comfort and safety.

In other words: if you can't be home in short order, don't go! And if their needs are too restrictive for you, don't adopt them in the first place.