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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>We
have had pet doors (since we have both dogs and cats we try not to
discriminate) for at least 20 to 25 years, they are wonderful. The first
one was a one piece unit that fit into the track on a sliding glass door
(picture a sliding glass door panel that's as tall as the other doors but about
14 inches wide with a flap in the bottom) and fit the cats and the Dachshunds.
Used this for many years in my condo and also the last house. In fact,
it's leaned up against the garage wall, waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>This
house does not have any sliding glass doors, so we installed a Medium pet door
in the wall, which was great until we got Gracie. She arrived skinny and
could barely squeeze through, and after adding a couple of pounds she started
to get stuck in it. So we took it out, enlarge the opening and put in a
Large pet door. Gracie and Anna go out once or twice in the middle of the
night to pee, so we leave it open. Pet doors are really great, especially
for the seniors who have to pee in the middle of the night (dogs, not
people). We have not had any problems with animals coming in (except the
neighborhood cats to eat our food). Highly recommend them.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Cons –
we really messed up when we picked the wall to put the door in at this
house. The sunroom, which has the back door, is a long, narrow
room. It's set up like this, starting on the left – about 3 foot of
wall – back door – 2 foot of wall – 2 large windows – 2
foot of wall – closet. The first bit of wall was out because
there's brick on the other side. We picked the next bit of wall, which is
on the right side of the back door, but should have picked the bit on the far
end of the windows. Because you can reach in through the pet door and
unlock the back door knob and deadbolt. We did not think. We do
have storm doors with very heavy special locks, so you can unlock the back door
but you are not getting through the storm door. Well, that is until we
installed the LARGE door for Gracie the Chubby girl. Any small or slender
adult could get right through the pet door and into the sunroom, so could
youngsters, and unlock any lock you want to install.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Now
this was not a problem until the last two weeks – when we had two
attempted break-ins, both targeting the pet door. They did not get in but
my guess is only because the criminal was too big or fat to squeeze
through. In both instances I found the back door unlocked and ajar, but
the storm door (special lock) kept them out. Well, the first thing I did was
to use the slide to block the top of the pet door, the slide is low enough so
adults cannot get through the flap but high enough so that the girls can get in
and out. Once I had my distances figured out I put screws through the
slide, through the frame and into the wall. Then I added a very large
hook-shaped lock up high on the back door, no way to reach it from the pet
door, if the burglars can get to it they are already in. And a padlock on
our back gate and the gate to the alley instead of a pin. No more leaving
the house through the back door, now front door only and walk around the house
and down the drive to the garage. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>So
this is something to think about, a good sized pet door does make your house a
little more attractive to criminals. If your dogs are crated at night,
you could lock the pet door and avoid any problems. We've been here
almost nine years and have never had a problem before, but the gas company had
contractors in our alley and yards replacing pipes and gas meters and such a
couple months ago, they did not ask permission but used my alley gate for quick
access for weeks, my guess is because of the way the burglars are accessing my
yard one of this bunch saw the pet door and is now involved in the attempted
break-ins. Sorry for the long story, but it is all something to think
about if you are planning to put in a Large pet door.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=JanieHmkBold><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:JanieHmkBold'>Anita Woodrum</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a
href="mailto:awoodrum@clear.net">awoodrum@clear.net</a></span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
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