Without thumbs, Fido isn’t likely to get caught playing with matches. The reality is, according to the American Kennel Club and ADT Security Services, pets accidentally start nearly 1,000 house fires every year.
Consider these scenarios:
- Rover sniffs out a left-over burger on the stove. Jumping up against the stove to try to snag it, his paw accidentally slips over the knob turning the burner on high.
- An array of candles is lit on a side table. Poochie jumps up on the adjacent couch. In the process of doing his three turns to settle in for a nap, his tail sweeps the lit candles on to the carpet.
- The backyard barbecue is over and everyone is inside the house. Ralphie the retriever spots the neighbor’s cat and knocks over a tiki torch as he races to catch it.
Above and beyond accidents caused by pets, an estimated half a million pets are affected each by fires at home.
To paraphrase Smokey the Bear: It’s up to you to keep your pet safe from fire.
Here are seven tips to help prevent and control fires that might endanger your pets:
- Prevention. Take the time to systematically walk through your home checking for potential fire hazards. Fix damaged wiring. Check appliance cords. Look for situations where a pet might accidentally topple something flammable. Replace traditional candles with flameless candles. Keep anything burning high enough a dog can’t accidentally knock it over.
- Install smoke alarms. Knowing that a fire has started as early as possible is key to surviving with your pet.
- Be prepared. Have a fire extinguisher in an easy to reach place. Learn what to do if a fire starts in the kitchen. Take advantage of your local Fire Department’s educational materials such as this fire prevention tip sheet.
- Have an emergency plan. Wildfires, earthquakes, mudslides and floods are sometimes described as the four seasons of Southern California. Have an escape route from your home. Make sure your pet’s carrier and leash are easy to get to in an emergency. Makes plans for where to take your pet after an emergency. Many shelters for people displaced by an emergency won’t allow pets. Where will yours stay?
- Take a pet first aid course. If your dog gets injured in a fire or from inhaling smoke, you’ll be better able to help him if you have some training in pet first aid.
- Get a pet alert sticker. Posting these stickers in a window of a house or on the door, if you live in an apartment or condo helps firefighters know to look for your pet in the event of a fire. Such stickers are available from many places (such as Amazon.com) inexpensively. Be sure that your sticker has an up-to-date listing of your pets. You may not always be at home when a fire happens.
- Make sure your dog’s ID is secure. Every dog should always have a collar with his license and his owner’s telephone number. A dog’s first instinct when frightened by a fire, earthquake or other disaster is to flee. Be sure to have a photo of the dog and of yourself with the dog. This will help prove the dog is yours if it’s lost and then found. If your dog is microchipped, be sure the contact information you have registered is still accurate.
The small amount of time it takes to walk through the steps of dealing with a fire, can be a life-saver to your best friend.
