This simple device will save pets and little critters lives. Its possible that your pet ramp will never be called upon to save your dog, or neighborhood cats. It is reassuring though, to have it "ready" just in case. It will however, save animals lives and you probably wont even be aware of it. All sorts of creatures can find their way into your pool. Most of these episodes happen while everyone is sleeping. You will notice that you wont be having any more of those "nasty morning surprises" in you pool or skimmer basket. The pet ramp offers animals, which have had the misfortune of accidentally falling into your pool, a way out before they have succumbed to drowning by sheer exhaustion. The pet ramp provides an exit route for animals up to approximately 40 lbs. For larger animals, The ramp serves as a resting ramp for the animal to pull their front half onto and wait for assistance to pull them out. NOTE: Because the nature of your pool deck to which the ramp will be attached varies (i.e., poured material, wooden, aluminum, etc), the screws or bolts to attach the enclosed D-ring clips to your deck are not included. We do however suggest: FOR A POURED STONE OR OTHER SOLID DECKS: Use two 1 1/4" x 14 stainless steel panhead screws mounted into 2 correspondingly sized lead anchors. FOR WOOD, METAL OR OTHER (HOLLOW UNDERNEATH) DECKS: Use two appropriate length stainless steel threaded bolts. 1/2" stainless steel washers below the decking material with an additional stainless steel lock washer between the bottom washer and the securing bolt is also recommended. To install the ramp: Determine where you want the ramp to hang in your pool. Ideally, find a spot visible from all "in the water" aspects of your pool, where deck traffic and activity is minimal. Drill 2 holes in the deck approximately 3 inches from the pool edge and 8 inches apart. If yours is a solid deck, the holes drilled should accommodate lead anchors pounded into the hole suitably sized to hold 1 1/4" x 14 stainless steel panhead screws used to attach the provided D-ring clips to your deck. Remember to include a 1/2" stainless washer and lock washer underneath your deck on these securing bolts. When you have attached both D-ring clips to your deck, proceed to tie-off the ramp to the top edge of the ramp is approximately 3 inches below the deck level. To tie-off the ramp, you will have to first untie the temporary knots on the ends of the rope assembly and remove the disc stops. You will then put the rope ends through the D-rings and "pull and position" the ramp to the recommended level. You then thread the disc up to the D-ring openings and put simple single knots behind each of the discs. While wild animals seem to know instinctively how to use the ramp in an emergency, some of our more domesticated pets need to be shown how the ramp can help them when in peril. We suggest you take your pet in the pool with you and "help" them see how they can climb out of the pool using the ramp .