The most important thing that you must do is to have a fire emergency plan that not only includes your family, it also must include your pets. Make sure that everyone knows the plan and they know what they must do. Have “backups” in the event a family member is not home.
- Place Pet Safety decals on all your windows. This tells the firemen there are pets inside. You can get them free from the ASPCA web site.
- Keep leashes easily available so you can keep your dogs in control.
- Try and keep your pets on the ground floor most of the time to make exiting easier.
- Keep hallways clear of clutter for quick exits.
- Many people keep their dogs in crates. Make sure you plan takes this into consideration.
Know where to go after the fire. Make sure that you have a family member or neighbor who will take you in if you can’t return to your house. Check for hotels that will accept dogs or local shelters they could stay while you are out of your house.
Your first alert of a fire is normally the Smoke Detector. Make sure you have working smoke detectors in hallways and by door entrances.
- Make sure the smoke detectors are working properly. Check them when daylight savings time starts and stops. Just to be on the safe side, always change the batteries.
- Smoke detectors do not detect carbon monoxide. Consider installing these detectors to provide you and your pets an extra level of safety.
Know your dogs’ hiding places. The excitements of the alarms and everyone jumping up could easily frighten your dogs. They normally retreat to their safe places (or hiding places).
It might be hard to find them in all the excitement of the moment. Locate your dogs’ hiding places now so that when an emergency does occur, you will know where to look for them.
Make sure your pets are identified. Always have your dogs’ wearing their collar and dog tags. Also, seriously think about having them micro-chipped. Ask your veterinarian about this simple procedure.
Build a Doggie Disaster Kit. Have a bag with your dog’s food, medicine, Veterinarian’s name and phone number, copy of medical records, photo of him and him with you, list of places you can go with your pet, toys, and some bedding. Keep this with your family safety kit.
Give your neighbor a key or house code. Make sure that a trusted neighbor can get into your house and knows where your pets are located if you are away.
Create an open access. If you use doggie doors, make sure they are open and available. This allows your dogs to exit without your assistance and can expedite the evacuation of your entire family.
Be conscious of your dogs’ unusual actions. Dogs have a much higher sense of smell than humans. They may smell the smoke long before us or our detectors. If your dog is acting “weird”, barking, nudging you, etc.; take note and determine the problem.
If your dog was in a smoke-filled room, take him to your veterinarian to make sure he has not inhaled any dangerous or toxic fumes.
Visit your local fire station with your dogs. Have your dogs get to know the firemen so they won’t run and hide if the firemen need to come into your house looking for them.
The most important thing that you must do is to have a fire emergency plan that not only includes your family, it also must include your pets. Make sure that everyone knows the plan and they know what they must do. Have “backups” in the event a family member is not home.
- Place Pet Safety decals on all your windows. This tells the firemen there are pets inside. You can get them free from the ASPCA web site.
- Keep leashes easily available so you can keep your dogs in control.
- Try and keep your pets on the ground floor most of the time to make exiting easier.
- Keep hallways clear of clutter for quick exits.
- Many people keep their dogs in crates. Make sure you plan takes this into consideration.
Know where to go after the fire. Make sure that you have a family member or neighbor who will take you in if you can’t return to your house. Check for hotels that will accept dogs or local shelters they could stay while you are out of your house.
Your first alert of a fire is normally the Smoke Detector. Make sure you have working smoke detectors in hallways and by door entrances.
- Make sure the smoke detectors are working properly. Check them when daylight savings time starts and stops. Just to be on the safe side, always change the batteries.
- Smoke detectors do not detect carbon monoxide. Consider installing these detectors to provide you and your pets an extra level of safety.
Know your dogs’ hiding places. The excitements of the alarms and everyone jumping up could easily frighten your dogs. They normally retreat to their safe places (or hiding places).
It might be hard to find them in all the excitement of the moment. Locate your dogs’ hiding places now so that when an emergency does occur, you will know where to look for them.
Make sure your pets are identified. Always have your dogs’ wearing their collar and dog tags. Also, seriously think about having them micro-chipped. Ask your veterinarian about this simple procedure.
Build a Doggie Disaster Kit. Have a bag with your dog’s food, medicine, Veterinarian’s name and phone number, copy of medical records, photo of him and him with you, list of places you can go with your pet, toys, and some bedding. Keep this with your family safety kit.
Give your neighbor a key or house code. Make sure that a trusted neighbor can get into your house and knows where your pets are located if you are away.
Create an open access. If you use doggie doors, make sure they are open and available. This allows your dogs to exit without your assistance and can expedite the evacuation of your entire family.
Be conscious of your dogs’ unusual actions. Dogs have a much higher sense of smell than humans. They may smell the smoke long before us or our detectors. If your dog is acting “weird”, barking, nudging you, etc.; take note and determine the problem.
If your dog was in a smoke-filled room, take him to your veterinarian to make sure he has not inhaled any dangerous or toxic fumes.
Visit your local fire station with your dogs. Have your dogs get to know the firemen so they won’t run and hide if the firemen need to come into your house looking for them.
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