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Advice to pet owners?
Notification today about a fire in NJ where some pets perished hit close to home for me. This is a topic near and dear to my heart as I also share my home with 4 dogs and 2 cats and one of my greatest fears is that a fire would erupt in my home while the family is out grocery shopping.
While we nationally do a go decent messaging job about how not to die in a fire (smoke detectors, escape plans, fire prevention programs), were I asked to give pet owners advice about how to save or improve the odds of rescue for their pets, I'm not sure I'd have "all the right answers". Thus the following questions to the FF Nation:
1. What advice would you have for me regarding how to best keep my pets safe from fire (beyond the typical things we tell humans - I'm looking for specifics like "Install pet doors so they could escape without me being home") type of responses.
2. What sort of priority would you suppose should be placed on keeping pets safe from fire dangers in the national scheme of things given humans are still burning up for preventable reasons? In other words, would messaging about pets detract from the overall human life-safety message we're trying to put out there?
Thanks,
Talbot
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by DUST on
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I've got the Save my Pets sticker on my door indicating that Chico & Meatloaf live inside...The Dog Whisperer has some good advice too
http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/seasonal/Tips-to-Keep-Pets-Safe
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Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
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What about using a smoke detector when you do your EDITH drill? Test the detector so the pets will hear the alarm, then train them to go out the pet door while you are drilling with the family.
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Permalink Reply by Fabulous Heather Days of Summer on
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COOL IDEA...
cats too ? I got to work on that with my cats... they tend to be more disobedient than obedient...
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PURR-FECT.... now we want to see pictures of Meatloaf the Cat and Chico the Dog
Save my kitties...
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Permalink Reply by John Dobson on
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My first pet save. The lady was very happy everybody else picked up ferrets and I got the snake.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on
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My dogs are afraid of the smoke detector alarm. They run upstairs and hide when it goes off.
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Permalink Reply by courtney creighton on
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thats a good topic for pet owners to think about. the loss of those pets in nj was a tragic event , i would try installing pet doors as a safety precaution first, and then try to get more advice on the topic at hand.
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I'm sure it hurts their ears. Maybe there's a way to train them to run the other way.
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Very cool. Congratulations! Did the snake ever try to eat the ferrets?
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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1. What advice would you have for me regarding how to best keep my pets safe from fire (beyond the typical things we tell humans - I'm looking for specifics like "Install pet doors so they could escape without me being home") type of responses.
First, as a dog owner myself, I have the same worries, but in the end the reality is there is only so much you can do when you are away to keep the pets safe. The best thing one can do is if leaving, ensure the house is as safe as possible, IE stove/oven, other heat appliances off, washer dryer isn't running, space heaters, electric blankets off, no candles burning, etc. Ensure the furnace is serviced and operating correctly, don't keep things plugged in, especially if the pet likes to chew etc.
Having a sticker helps the FD identify pets are in, and there have been many fires where pets were saved because they were able to find an area of refuge or able to find a way out. Yes, there have been many pets to perish as well, but if we focus on the cause of those fires, most are due to human error.
2. What sort of priority would you suppose should be placed on keeping pets safe from fire dangers in the national scheme of things given humans are still burning up for preventable reasons? In other words, would messaging about pets detract from the overall human life-safety message we're trying to put out there?
National scheme of things, the focus should still be placed upon HUMAN life. While we will try and save pets, as FF's, the priority is about human lives. There are already too numerous examples of fire deaths because people went back in for pets, money, etc and many times this is adults dying, not kids. If the focus is placed on how to save pets, there is a good chance people forget about themselves and place focus on their pets and can lead to more risks and possible more loss of life than we see now.
Losing a pet is tough, but realistically, there are many pets out there looking for homes. Even to those of us who have lost pets in the past, find the void is filled when another pet comes in the picture. No they aren't the same as the ones lost, but it doesn't take long for a new pet to become part of the family. The same thing can't be said about the loss of human life.
So really, the focus about fire prevention should remain with people, but it can be noted that prevention is also going to be the best way to protects pets. I don't see a reason to push a focus on pet safety, human safety IS pet safety.
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I don't know I brought it out of the apartments snapped a photo because no one would believe me. Had to go back to work on the next floor.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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If you truly care about your pets then you have to provide them with appropriate PPE.
Of course, it doesn't hurt to teach your animals how to things simple things like.. flying. This is also a great safety measure to ensure safe egress for your pets.
Sure... I know what you are thinking... Overkill? Nothing is too good for your pet(s)!
These are just some of the answers, or at least that's how I see it...
Happy Holidays!
CBz
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