subject: Fido VS. The Home Security System [print this page] Fido VS. The Home Security SystemFido VS. The Home Security System
We know that we all want to be safe in our homes. The question is, what is the best way to ensure your family's safety and peace of mind?
Often, a homeowner will have a large, (hopefully) well-trained "watch dog" and one would think that the pooch would deter burglars. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Unless a dog is well trained, problems may occur. If a dog attacks a burglar and causes bodily harm, you may actually be sued by the burglar. There are different laws throughout the country that attempt to protect the homeowner but the burglars have won enough lawsuits to warrant some caution on the homeowner's behalf. While numerous lawsuits have been filed and several burglars have been denied their sense of "justice", having to go through the trauma of a lawsuit after someone breaks into YOUR HOME, is adding insult to injury. Our legal system can be a somewhat unreliable and inconsistent solution to this problem. What can you do? Most importantly, post "Dog on Duty" or "Beware of Dog" signs throughout your property. The words of the law state that the burglar was willing to accept the risk of dog attack by entering your property. That can do the trick, but why take a chance?
Another solution to this problem is to install a home security system. Perhaps you don't want to become a dog owner and assume all of the responsibility that dog ownership entails. Most burglars will not attempt a break-in when they see that the home has a professional security system. The home security system has become so sophisticated, the would-be burglar would rather skip your house and go to a home that is unsecured (and better yet, no guard dog, too).
I am a huge proponent of home security systems but there are readers out there that swear by their canine home security system. I have an even better solution. Why not have both? If someone is stupid enough to break into your home when he sees that you have a home security system and a very large dog, well, he is just plain stupid. The burglar trips the security system and while the security company or police are responding, the dog can keep the criminal at bay until the police arrive. At the very least, you would have double protection to keep everyone in the house safe.
If one were to compare cost between a home security system and a big watch dog, I am inclined to believe a dog would cost more. Of course, there are added benefits to owning a dog. A home security system will not bring you your slippers at night and will not give you big, wet sloppy kisses when you come home from work. But it costs a lot of money and time to own a dog. In defense of the home security system, you don't have to walk it in the evenings in 20 degree weather and you never have to clean up after a home security system. With free installation and free equipment, a home security system will, most likely, cost less than owning a watch dog.
I don't have a big dog I rely on a professional home security system. In this day and age, the idea of double protection intrigues me, but I am more of a cat person and we all know how well they guard the house.
