A DOG started a kitchen blaze by turning on an electric hob – sparking warnings from firefighters to pet owners.
The pooch accidentally switched on the electric cooker, which set alight to items resting on top and filled the kitchen with smoke.
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Fire crews in Corringham, near Thurrock, Essex, attended the incident and put it out using hose reel jets before ventilating the house.
Essex Fire and Rescue Service are now warning others about the risk posed by pets and items left over the heat source.
Watch Manager Rob Fossett said: “We are urging residents to keep their hobs and ovens completely clear.
“This morning we were called out to a kitchen fire which started after items were left on top of the hob. It had been turned on accidentally by the family’s dog.
“If you have an electric hob, it’s best to turn it off at the switch when you’re not using it. That way it can’t be accidentally turned on by any pets.
“Thanks to the swift actions of the crews, the damage was contained to the kitchen.”
It comes after a pooch was left “screaming” in agony from a £28 shampoo forcing the owner to fork out an eye-watering £1,500 in vet bills.
Devanshi Ruperal, 39, is now warning other dog owners to be wary of the OUAI Fur Bébé she used on him.
Devanshi used the upmarket shampoo on her pooch hoping to give him a pampering experience.
However, when she started rinsing the product off his head some of it went into his eye causing her dog to scream in pain.
She claims she feared the dog was going to go blind and said hearing him suffer was unbearable.
After taking him to the vet she was later told that he’d need surgery – costing Devanshi £1,500 on treatment.
She said: “This is a brand who are meant to be chemical and paraben-free – all I want is a change to the labelling saying it can cause burns and is dangerous to the eyes.”
When Devanshi confronted the brand she was told they couldn’t do anything and offered her a £50 discount.
The Sun has requested a comment from OUAI.
With spring just around the corner dog owners have been urged to watch out for changes in their pet’s behaviour in warm weather.
It comes after a study found dogs are 11 per cent more likely to bite when the sun is out and temperatures are high.
Caine behaviourist Debby Lucken, 42, has revealed the best ways owners can understand their dogs.
First, Debby from Dorset, recommends looking for signs that indicate your dog is stressed.
These can vary from lip-linking when there is no food around to shaking their body off when not wet.
Debby said: “Generally speaking, these signals serve as initial ways of telling us how they feel and asking us to stop what we’re doing.”
When people don’t recognise these signals, dogs will then move to more blatant ones such as growling and biting.
The dog expert added: “Should your dog growl, please refrain from telling them off as they are merely delivering a warning.
“In fact, if we don’t listen to those warning signals or if we tell them off, dogs will have little choice but to step up the conversation and they might resort to biting.”
Here are 10 tips to keeping your dog safe throughout the winter months
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home have revealed the best ways to look after your dog during the winter.
When out on walks it’s important to make sure your four-legged friends are wrapped up warm.
Put a dog coat on them when you go out, especially if you have a fine-coated dog, such as a Greyhound or Staffie.
This is especially important with long-haired dogs as they are prone to snow compacting between their toes and turning into ice balls which can prove very painful.
If they are agreeable, you could trim the long hair between your dog’s toes to help prevent this.
Clean their paws at the end of your walk as salt and grit from roads and pavements can also get lodged between their toes.
Dry off wet and muddy dogs after walks and make sure they have a cosy bed to return to which is away from any cold draughts.
Some dogs can be very reluctant to venture out into the cold.
If this is the case, do not force them out but make sure you provide them with lots of toys for them to play with and keep them occupied while indoors.
If you do find that your dog is less active in the winter months, make sure you adjust the amount of food you give them accordingly to avoid weight gain.
Cold weather often brings reduced visibility in foggy or snowy weather conditions.
If you’re letting them off the lead, make sure your dog has good recall to avoid them getting lost and, as always, make sure their microchip details are up to date with your correct contact information.
As the nights draw in earlier and the sun rises later, attach a small light to your dog’s collar so they can be seen when out on walks in reduced visibility.
Just as cars can become fatally hot in summer months, temperatures can drop very quickly in cold weather.
Always take your dog with you rather than leave them in the car for any length of time.
Keep your dog away from stretches of frozen water as it’s impossible to tell how secure the surface is.
Keep them on a lead if you think they’ll be tempted to jump in.
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