I think parents will always be worried about their kids being on the net. I know for a fact that although I and quite confidently know that as early as my Keoni’s been exposed to the net, he’s also at an early age realized the dangers out there, having once or twice wandered into the wrong realm, I still am vigilant and monitor his use of it. In as much as I want my son protected from all the ails of the world, I care too about those things near and dear to him like his things, his likes and dislikes that includes --- his pets!

Keoni loves animals and prior to that now dreaded Ondoy (thank you, Lord for our safekeeping), he had pet fish, a dog named Bruno, Kato, Kirichay, Kringkring and Obama (the last names are that of cats, the latter being a black kitten). He loved playing with them, and also played his gadgets around them.

There seemed to be such harmony between all of them till that one day when he was feeding the fish, his Nano (iPod) fell kaplunk into the aquarium---arrrgh!

It’s already a given that there’s potential problems even eminent danger that they may encounter once online but thank God for cats having nine lives and all, Bruno and Kato survived Ondoy but I learned that having gadgets around the house may cause their untimely demise?

I read that Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported on the findings of a survey, that there are top ten gadgets prone to injuring pets. Topping the list is the ubiquitous iPod, but three game systems have also made the cut, with Nintendo’s Wii leading the way with a stunning 10% injury rate.

“The survey shows how involved our pets are in our everyday lives which is something that can take a while to get used to,” said vet Brian Faulkner. Conducted by insurance carrier Petplan, the survey queried 3,000 pet owners about pet-related accidents, including basics like leaping off the furniture to the more electrifying incidents involving gadgetry.

In addition to the Wii, Sony’s Playstation made the list with an 8.3% rate. That was followed by Nintendo’s other mega-hit system, the DS, which clocked in at 5.8% to tie by far the strangest item in the Top 10 -- a karaoke machine.

How is it harmful? May be in a number of ways, pets getting tangled in its coils ending up either strangled or electrocuted, or simply knocking it down and it landing on your beloved Furly the Chihuahua’s head… ouch!

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