Last week, Officer Mark Dombkowski and Monroe police and firefighters rescued pets and residents from a burning trailer. A huge "blossom" to all emergency personnel involved. As a pet owner, I can understand what it would be like to lose a pet in a house fire. This incident got me to thinking about my own pet rescue plan. I found out: I didn't have one.
If you are a pet owner, and many in Monroe are, you should think about what would happen in your home should a fire break out and the pets are home alone.
Give some thought to these suggestions from ADT and the American Kennel Club:
1. Extinguish open flame. This is a no-brainer. Make sure all flame (candles, fireplace, appliances) is extinguished before leaving the house. Make sure pets are not left unattended around open flame.
2. Take a minute to pet proof your home. Walk through your home and check for fire hazards where pets might inadvertently start fires. (Pups love to chew on cords. Covers are available for them).
3. Secure young pets. It's a good idea on a number of levels to keep young dogs confined when you are away from home. Keeping animals confined at night means you know where they are located if you need to evacuate in a hurry.
4. Keep pets near entrances. When you are gone, being confined close to an entrance makes it easy for emergency personnel to locate them.
5. Practice escape routes with family and pets. Keep collars with an updated informational tag on the animal (even cats) and leashes near the door in case rescuers need them or you need to evacuate quickly.
6. We shouldn't have to tell you, use smoke alarms!
7. Affix a pet alert window cling. Put one of these in every door of your house. There is a place to write down the number of pets in your house and the little cling sticks to the glass, so it's easy to take off and put back on. This critical information can save rescuers time when locating your pets. Make sure to keep the clings updated, too.
Free clings are available by going to www.adt.com/pets. Get one now.
July 15th has been declared "National Pet Fire Safety Day." Why not start now to get your home pet fire safety proofed?
Thanks again to the great bunch of emergency personnel we have in Monroe. Your services are very much appreciated.
If you are a pet owner, and many in Monroe are, you should think about what would happen in your home should a fire break out and the pets are home alone.
Give some thought to these suggestions from ADT and the American Kennel Club:
1. Extinguish open flame. This is a no-brainer. Make sure all flame (candles, fireplace, appliances) is extinguished before leaving the house. Make sure pets are not left unattended around open flame.
2. Take a minute to pet proof your home. Walk through your home and check for fire hazards where pets might inadvertently start fires. (Pups love to chew on cords. Covers are available for them).
3. Secure young pets. It's a good idea on a number of levels to keep young dogs confined when you are away from home. Keeping animals confined at night means you know where they are located if you need to evacuate in a hurry.
4. Keep pets near entrances. When you are gone, being confined close to an entrance makes it easy for emergency personnel to locate them.
5. Practice escape routes with family and pets. Keep collars with an updated informational tag on the animal (even cats) and leashes near the door in case rescuers need them or you need to evacuate quickly.
6. We shouldn't have to tell you, use smoke alarms!
7. Affix a pet alert window cling. Put one of these in every door of your house. There is a place to write down the number of pets in your house and the little cling sticks to the glass, so it's easy to take off and put back on. This critical information can save rescuers time when locating your pets. Make sure to keep the clings updated, too.
Free clings are available by going to www.adt.com/pets. Get one now.
July 15th has been declared "National Pet Fire Safety Day." Why not start now to get your home pet fire safety proofed?
Thanks again to the great bunch of emergency personnel we have in Monroe. Your services are very much appreciated.
