Woman Shares Why Pet Owners Should Get Rid of Their "Beware of Dog" Signs
Jul. 26 2023, Published 12:17 p.m. ET
We all love our pets.
Even the biggest, scariest dogs are loyal to the ones they love. As for everybody else, that’s a different story. Dogs have done all kinds of damage to unexpected visitors — specifically Amazon and food delivery drivers.
To protect outsiders from potential harm, dog owners often put "Beware of Dog" signs up around their property or on backyard fences. However, one social media user said that you might actually be doing more harm than good when it comes to protecting yourself and your furry family member.
Read on to find out why this woman on TikTok advises that every dog parent get rid of their "Beware of Dog" signs.
This dog owner warns against “Beware of Dog” signs — here's why.
On TikTok, a Canadian woman named Kay Guzman (@kay_guzman98) posted a video that might make you to rethink the way you look at "Beware of Dog" signs forever. According to Kay, there’s only one place to put the signs and that’s in the trash!
“If you put a sign up on your property that says ‘Beware of Dog,’ that means you know that your dog is potentially aggressive, potentially could attack somebody, and therefore it could make you liable for anything that happens,” she said in the video.
Kay said that she wasn't aware of the potential legal dangers that a "Beware of Dog" sign could present for homeowners down the line. She found this out when she was considering purchasing one of her own.
“Not that our dogs are scary, but just to deter people from trying to come into our house or break into our house,” the TikToker explained. “When I talked to my family about it, they were like, ‘Whoa, no, no, no. Don't do that. You will be basically admitting that your dog is aggressive and not safe.’”
She further pleaded her case: “If you're worried about people coming in — [it’s] better it be a surprise that your dog is aggressive and it attacks them then [for] you to put a sign that says ‘Beware of Dog’ that could make you liable for any attacking or whatever aggressive behavior your dog does.”
Sometimes, "Beware of Dog" signs are put up even when a dog isn’t aggressive, just as a courtesy to visitors. It’s those dog owners, Kay said, that should take heed of her advice the most.
“If you're thinking about getting a 'Beware of Dog' sign or you already have a 'Beware of Dog' sign, get rid of it,” Kay added. She advised that pet owners get a security camera or private property signs instead. “Please just like save your a--.”
The video, which quickly gained popularity online, was news to plenty of pet-owning TikTokers, who had no idea that the sign could be that problematic.
However, some skeptics questioned Kay’s logic.
One commenter wrote: “In the United States, signs in plain view release the homeowner of liability from those who ignore them. [It] seems backward to be liable for having signage.”
Every city, state, and country has different laws for dog owners — so if you’re worried, it’s probably best that you do your own research before you make your next move!
