Did you know that National Pet Fire Safety Day is coming up on July 15? Can you imagine if a fire broke out in your home while you were away and your pets were helplessly trapped inside? Well, it turns out this is a very common reality. It has been estimated that every year 500,000 pets are impacted by home fires; pets are responsible for accidentally starting almost 1,000 fires each year.
Most people don’t realize that their pet could actually cause a fire in their home. Taking some simple steps to prevent a fire could mean the difference between life and death for your animal companions. Moreover, this kind of planning for unexpected or accidental events is a crucial part of being a responsible pet owner.
Many of us consider our pets to be valued members of our family so it only makes sense to include them in our emergency and disaster prevention plans.
Here are some tips from ADT and the American Kennel Club on how to keep your pets safe!
- Extinguish open flames. Pets are naturally curious and may get too close to cooking appliances, candles, or a fire in the fireplace. Do not leave your pet unsupervised around an open flame and be sure to extinguish any open flames before leaving home.
- Remove stove knobs. Remove stove knobs or cover them before leaving home. The National Fire Protection Association reports that stoves and cook tops are most frequently the piece of equipment involved in pet-started fires.
- Invest in flameless candles. Flameless candles use a light bulb instead of an open flame which eliminates the danger of your pet knocking it over. Cats often unwittingly start fires by knocking over candles with their tails.
- Don’t leave glass water bowls on wooden decks. The sun’s rays can filter through the glass and water to heat up and ignite a wooden deck beneath. Opt for stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead.
- Secure wires and cords. Cats can sometimes see these things as play toys due to their resemblance to string. Keep them out of your pet’s reach.
- Keep pets near entrances when away from home. Keep collars on pets and easy access to leashes in case firefighters need to rescue your pet. When leaving pets at home alone, keep them in areas near entrances where firefighters can readily find them.
- Secure young pets. Keep young pets away from fire-starting hazards. Using crates or baby gates in safe areas are great tools for this.
- Pets left alone can’t escape a burning home. Consider using monitored smoke detector systems so emergency responders can be contacted if you’re not home.
- Use a pet alert sticker. Writing down the number of pets in your home on window clings or door stickers can help responders when locating your pets. You can find these at your local firehouse.
- Outdoor pets should be protected too. Housing and crates for outside animals should be located in an area clear of brush, bushes and other vegetation that could fuel a fire. Make sure outdoor pets wear or have identification implanted in case they flee the property during an emergency.
Taking the time to make your home safe for your pet is the best thing you can do as a caring pet owner.
Learn more about the Everett Animal Shelter. Plan a visit, follow us on Facebook and Twitter and check out all of our adoptable pets. And be sure to watch our featured Pet of the Week on the Everett Channel.
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