Though we hope we never have to deal with this, the statistics are over a half million pets in the US are affected by house fires each year and 40,000 pets are killed.
Fire Safety Tips for Dog People
- It is important that your neighbors know your dog’s name. If the dog is loose in the neighborhood it will respond better to someone who knows its name.
- Your neighbor could assist the emergency responders. Knowing the dog’s name could help the firefighter interact with the dog and calm it down.
- Your dog knowing to come when called is very important. Always make coming to you a positive experience. Knowing the recall command can be a lifesaver. Make it a point that your dog always comes to you when called. Once your dog knows to come then you can practice under distracting circumstances. You never know when you might need for your dog to follow you through smoke, noise, and flashing lights.
Keys to dealing with fire
- Be alert and prepared
- When you prepare your family emergency evacuation plan be sure to include your pets.
- Have an escape route-have more than one way out of your house and off your property and practice with your pets.
- Know your pet’s hiding places. This is where your pet will go when scared.
- Secure your pet-always evacuate your pet on a leash or in a carrier.
- Prepare emergency kits for your pet-include food, water, bowls, cat litter and pan, medications or prescriptions and vet paperwork.
- Have a photo of your pets in case they get lost, shot records, proof of ownership. (Information out in a cloud to be accessed from any computer)
- Display window stickers—pet stickers alert rescue workers of the pets in your home.
You might consider investing in a pet fire alert collar. This product works together with your home smoke detector and allows you to locate your pet as the collar flashes and sounds off when your smoke detector goes off. (What about the flashing light and sound scaring the pet?)
Have a safe place for your pets to stay until things have settled down.
