NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FASTEST GROWING ONLINE NEWSPAPER

Keep your pets safe from fire danger

Comment     Print
Related Articles

Easily one of the greatest fears of anyone who works at the animal shelter is fire. Our ancient building has suffered from a fire before and while, thankfully, the damage wasn't extensive and none of the animals were hurt, we still worry constantly that it might happen again. The average person, however, does not always have fire safety on their mind and, as a result, accidents can easily happen. As we head into winter, when fireplaces and wood stoves will be in constant use, remember these simple tips to keep your pet safe.

Space Heaters

Space heaters pose a huge fire threat if not used properly. Remember to keep the area around heaters clear. This means pulling pet beds away from the heaters and making sure they can't accidentally get pressed against the heater by mistake. Never leave space heaters running in an empty home or a room you're not using. Space heaters can easily be knocked over by pets and, if you have a destructive pet, cords make great chew toys.

Fireplaces

Even more so than with space heaters, it's essential to keep the area around the fireplace clear of anything that can accidentally start a fire. If you have a fireplace, getting some sort of cover to keep curious pets (and children!) away from the fire is crucial. Pet beds, toys, and even area rugs (especially if you have an active pet that sends area rugs skidding across the floor) can all easily find their way into a fireplace and lead to a fire in your home. Another reason to get a cover is to keep sleeping or playing pets from accidentally getting too close to the flames - especially with their tails.

Candles

Candles are a constant source of fire danger. Unfortunately, it is all too easy to light a candle, forget about it, and walk away. Aside from the obvious fire risk involved in unsupervised candles, there is also the risk of injury to your pet should a candle get knocked over. Hot melted wax can lead to painful burns if a candle falls on your pet or they knock it over onto themselves.

Have a plan

Simply avoiding common fire hazards is not enough to keep your pets safe. Fires can happen no matter how many precautions you take, so it's important to have a plan in place in case of an emergency. An easy first step towards protecting your pet is placing a sticker on one of your windows to alert firefighters that there are pets in your home. These stickers are usually available at pet supply stores.

Should a fire occur while you are in the house, be sure to have an evacuation plan for your family and pets. Familiarize yourself with your pets' hiding places and make sure crates and leashes are easily accessible. In an emergency, pillow cases will also work instead of a crate. At the shelter, we keep a plastic bin of pillow cases in each cat room in case we need to evacuate the animals quickly. Remember that your pet will be scared and, although they may usually enjoy being handled, the stress of the situation will likely cause them to panic and try to get away from you. If your pets are not leashed or crated, they may run away from you (and possibly get hurt elsewhere) or may even run back into your home.

Prepare an emergency kit

An emergency kit can be helpful in countless situations, not just if there's a fire. Remember that you may have to board your pet somewhere after a disaster, so keeping an updated copy of your pet's vaccination records is useful - especially since some facilities will not board your pet at all without those records. When packing other items, think about what you would need if you were travelling with your pet for a few days. Pack some of their food and a few days' worth of any prescription medications they need to take. Be sure to replace these items regularly so they are not out-of-date should you ever need to use them. It's also a good idea to keep a photo and description of your pet in the kit. Should your pet go missing during a disaster, these items will be useful to you.

Nobody likes to think about a fire or other disaster happening to their home, but just a little planning can make a big difference in keeping you and your pet safe.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, two cats, a bearded dragon, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322

Read more from:
Focus
Tags: 
None
Share: 
Comment      Print
Powered by Bondware
News Publishing Software

The browser you are using is outdated!

You may not be getting all you can out of your browsing experience
and may be open to security risks!

Consider upgrading to the latest version of your browser or choose on below: