It goes without saying that for many pet owners, our felines and canines are cherished children in fur coats! In the U.S. alone, 68% of households, or roughly 82.5 million homes, include a pet – 57 million owning dogs and 45 million owning cats. And for many, we'll go to great ends to give those furry kids of ours a comfortable, pampered life. From $7,000 luxury dog beds, to $350 elevated dining stations, $120 designer collars, $100 all-weather hiking boots, and much more. In total, we spend upwards of $58 billion a year on pets! While we make sure our pets are comfortable inside our homes, it's easy to overlook safety and comfort in the same outdoor living spaces we enjoy year round. Here's some things you might not have thought about regarding your pet's comfort and safety outside…even if you have that $7,000 luxury dog bed sitting on your patio: Sun: Yes, even dogs and cats can get sunburned. Especially after grooming your dogs are at risk for getting sunburned all over, as are your cats, especially those with light colored fur. As sunscreen doesn't really work for fur-covered children, set up some pergolas in ideal resting places and make sure their outdoor pads and beds are areas that get shade during peak sun hours. Water supply: You're not home 24/7 but your dog still needs access to water and food. You can get an expensive or inexpensive diner for their dishes outdoors, but chances are on a hot day those won't hold enough water for two or even one pet. This is where water features play a vital role for pet safety. A water feature with a shallow catching bowl is ideal for limitless water for pets large and small, and the wonderful ambiance they add for humans is not bad either! Grass vs. Turf: Even though your dog might miss digging up fresh dirt from your lawn, they won't miss the chemicals they deal with on a daily basis. Fertilizers linger and can irritate your pet’s skin and might even cause respiratory issues. Think about switching to a soft artificial turf to give your dog and chore list a break. For some fun ideas for water features, pergolas and turf, visit systempavers.com.