Dear Friends & Guests,

Welcome to PetAccessDangers.org – a website I created in the hope that no one has to travel the same dark and hopeless road our family has traveled these past few years. Through this site, it is my mission to increase the public’s awareness of pet access/pet door dangers, and raise support through public advocacy in hopes of saving other children’s lives and sparing other families from this pain.

Our precious son, Matthew was just two-years-old when he died. It was a typical late afternoon and the house was buzzing with three adults and two children when Matthew found the doggie door behind the couch. He crawled through it and made his way onto an enclosed patio area and then through a pool fence. We found Matthew just a few minutes later floating face-down in the pool. He died 13 agonizing days later from injuries related to his “near-drowning” accident.

Matthew was our gift to the world, and it’s hard to grasp that a sudden accident would take away such a beautiful, happy, and deserving little child. His dreams were so innocent and simple prior to his death. Matthew's biggest desire was to ride the school bus. He was not yet three, but he watched the older kids do it, and wanted so badly to be a part of that as well. I wish he could have fulfilled that dream. I know all parents have hopes that their child will live long, healthy and successful lives too. As a parent, you dream your child will succeed in ways you didn't, live the impossible dream, create a better future for his family, and continue to laugh and warm the hearts around him.

One cannot explain why things happen and how we wish our life was better. Matthew didn't deserve to die. If Ken and I had ever thought the pet door would pose any danger to our children, we never would have installed it. We thought he was safely contained in our home and had no idea he could get out.

I would like to invite and welcome anyone who visits this website into our family. Please join us, learn of the safety risks concerning doggie doors, and be a crusader to assist in our mission to stop tragic losses like ours.

Please read on, ask questions, and help us save other children.

Sincerely,

Carol Ranfone