I want to put water and non-toxic antifreeze in the base of my basketball net to prevent it from falling over. If the base ever cracks and the fluid escapes, could it hurt my dogs?
It's important to keep in mind that no antifreeze product is without potential risk. There are several antifreeze products on the market that are labeled as low- or non-toxic. They are certainly less toxic than traditional antifreeze and usually contain propylene glycol or methyl alcohol, but they aren't truly non-toxic. Both propylene glycol and methyl alcohol have the potential to cause gastrointestinal irritation, central nervous system depression, and even death from respiratory failure in severe cases.
As a safer alternative, you might consider using sand rather than antifreeze to weigh down your basketball net. If you do use a low-tox product and your net base springs a leak, clean up any fluid immediately. And no matter the type of antifreeze, keep any unused product in a secure place away from curious pets.