Whether opting to walk Fido on a summer night or stay inside an air-conditioned living room with Boots the cat, pet owners can get joy from their furry loved ones this summer.

Just watch where you step.

More than 86,000 Americans suffer injuries from falls each year because of cats and dogs, sometimes tripping over a pet, stumbling over a toy or food bowl, or being pulled down by a dog on a leash, according to a recent report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The report suggests the problem could become more widespread as pet ownership increases along with a rising elderly population "in whom injuries might have the greatest health consequences."

In most cases, the injuries occurred inside or around the home. The most common injuries were fractures.

Kevin Fischer, a shelter employee at the Ocean City Humane Society, nearly injured himself tripping on his own pet cat, Jazz, while on the stairs in his home.

"I caught myself before I made a face plant," said Fischer, a shelter employee at the Ocean City Humane Society. "It was scary. She let out a yell, and I was more afraid for her."

Now, Fischer shakes a can of pennies to keep Jazz from going down the stairs in front of him.

With dogs, which are responsible for about 88 percent of the injuries, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stresses the importance of dog obedience training.

If a dog's leash wraps around an owner's legs and pulls, the owner can topple over, Fischer said.