Here's fuel for thought!
Did you know that an estimated 500,000 pets in the U.S.A. are affected by devastating home fires each year? While similar statistics for Canada are not available, this is still an alarming fact.
In order to address the issue of pet fire safety, the American Kennel Club and ADT Security Services partnered to create “National Pet Fire Safety Day.” (July 15, 2009.) The purpose of this nationwide campaign was to educate pet owners about potential risks when pets are left home alone, as well as provide proven prevention measures to ensure the pet safety.
According to a recent AKC study, 88 percent of pet owners consider their pets to be valued family members so it makes sense to include them in fire prevention plans and rescue alerts should a house fire strike.
“One of the hallmarks of responsible dog ownership is keeping pets safe and planning for unexpected emergencies, including house fires,” said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “Pet proofing the home, developing pet-friendly escape routes and alerting rescuers of your pets presence with ‘window clings’ is the best way to keep your four-legged family member from harm.”
That’s something Lia Wentworth of Maryland knows well. One Sunday morning she and her family left their Labrador Retriever “Justice” home alone. They didn't realize they left a pot of boiling water with plastic baby bottles on the stove. When the water evaporated, the bottles began to emit a toxic smoke. No one knew Justice was in trouble because there was no flame. Luckily, the Wentworth’s had a monitored smoke detector and the firefighters were alerted. Their prompt response saved Justice's life!
Tips to Keep Pets Safe from House Fires:
Use Monitored Smoke Detectors – Monitored detectors are connected to a monitoring center, providing an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms.
Affix a Pet Alert Window Cling or Sticker – Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the static cling to a front window. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets. Contact your location humane society or animal services centre... many distribute window clings or stickers free of charge or for a small donation.
Keep Your Information Updated - Firefighters are familiar with pet alert window clings so keep the number of pets listed on them updated. Knowing the accurate number of pets in the house aids rescuers in finding all of your pets.
Get a free "Pet in Home" window cling -- and other free stuff -- from the American SPCA by clicking on the "Fire Safety" heading above. (Yes, they will ship to Canada!) Or check with your local humane society or animal services centre. Many have window clings available free or for a small donation.
