Dog owners in New York City apartment high rises all have the same duty, or doodie, each day – and that’s taking the dog out for a walk and a bathroom break.  Forget this once, and they’ll be rewarded with a nasty accident on the carpet.  Unfortunately, the only way down to the street is via the elevator.  While they’re generally safe for humans, for some dogs – an elevator can quickly turn into a nightmare!

In this first security camera video – a woman talks to a neighbor while entering the elevator.  Only, the dog stays behind!  However, the only casualty will be about two dozen eggs!

In Russia, this man is nothing short of a hero when a little pug runs out while the doors are closing.  This was taken from a local newscast.

According to the description, this guy is a New York City dog walker – isn’t his job to keep the dog safe?

The first elevators can be traced back almost two thousand years and were first put into use by inventor Archimedes around 236 BC.  Elevators (or lifts as they are called in the United Kingdom) are designed to transport people or goods from one location to another by means of a lift.

Original patent drawing plans for Elisha Otis’s safety elevator from the US National Archives.

In 1852, Elisha Otis invented the first safety elevator design that is generally in use today.  His elevator featured rollers that lock onto guides along the elevator shaft and will prevent the cab from a sudden fall, should a cable break.

The first passenger elevator was installed at 488 Broadway in New York City on March 23, 1857.  In 1870, the Equitable Life Building, also in New York, was the first commercial office building to feature an elevator.  Otis’ safety elevator made it possible for New York and other cities to build high into the sky.  His Otis Elevator Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of elevators, today.

Elevators also feature infra-red beams that are supposed to prevent the doors from closing when a person or object blocks it.  However, since dogs are small, they can sometimes not be detected by the beam, making it possible for the doors to close and the car to rise.

The National Elevator Industry Trade Association and the ASPCA offer a few tips for dog owners that help prevent a serious accident and proper etiquette when riding an elevator with man’s best friend:

• If the dog is small enough – hold it

• Sit your dog in a far back corner of the elevator car.

• Teach your dog not to jump on other passengers and children

• Train your dog or firmly grasp the leash, so they cannot to run for the doors as soon as they open, especially if the car stops on multiple floors

• Ask a fellow passenger’s permission before allowing your dog to sniff or lick them.  Not every person may love dogs as much as you do.

• Have a bag and/or towel in case the dog makes a bathroom accident

So, whether you are riding up to your apartment, traveling to a pet friendly hotel, or just checking this out for general amusement because you don’t live in a high rise; just take a few seconds to think before waltzing on into the elevator – and make sure your furry friend is safely along for the ride.

THE 411

What: Dogs vs. Elevators

Where: apartment high rises, hotels, and more

Warning: elevators can be dangerous to a dog

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS

My first thought is to make sure the dog is inside and secure, before pressing the floor button, and then make keep a firm grasp on the collar.  I love dogs and my family has had one my whole life – but sometimes, dogs are animals, and they can have a mind of their own!

Hopefully, my blog this week will just as a simple safety warning to everyone.  I realize not everyone reading this has a dog, but after seeing some of the graphic videos of serious accidents that have been posted online (you have to Google that, yourself) we can all take a minute and make sure their secure before running for our floor.  We may not all have dogs – but at one point or another, you’ll most likely be taking an elevator ride with one.

Image credits – madabandon, pennstatenews, Neena.Ree Kroll