Prevention Is Key When Protecting Your Pets From Fire

July 15^th is National Pet Fire Safety Day, a time to consider fire prevention to keep both home and pets safe. Over half a million pets are affected each year by house fires, and over one thousand are caused by the homeowner’s pets, according to a study by the National Fire Protection Association.

Here are a few tips on how to keep your pets from starting a house fire, and helpful hints on keeping them safe.

Be wary of open flames. A simple candle can be knocked over by the swish of a tail or a playful batting of a paw. A fire in an open fireplace might draw the interest of a curious pet and sparks or coals can easily catch dog hair on fire. A bubbling pan on the stove can be spilled by an eager paw. Do not leave your pets unattended around open flames and make sure fires are completely extinguished before leaving the house or going to bed.

Remove stove knobs. Did you know that stoves are the number one piece of equipment involved in house fires caused by pets? Removing or covering stove knobs may be the single most important change you can make to prevent your pet starting a fire.

Use stainless steel or ceramic drinking bowls on wooden decks. Under very specific conditions, glass drinking bowls set out on wooden decks can refract sunlight, acting like a magnifying glass and igniting the wood beneath it. Stainless steel or ceramic are safe alternatives.

Secure wires and cables. Both dogs and cats are known to chew Christmas lights, computer and lamp cords, and even phone charging cables. Keep cords hidden and out of reach and invest in secure cabling options that prevent accessibility to pets. For pets who like to chew, offer safe and healthy alternative toys and chew treats.

Working smoke detectors. Get in the habit of regularly testing and replacing the batteries in your smoke detectors, and make sure they are located in centralized areas. If your home security offers fire monitoring protection, consider an upgrade to this service for added peace of mind.

Keep pets near exits. If you keep your dog in the back bedroom or basement when away from home, consider a relocation! In the event of a fire, firefighters are more likely to find and assist your pet if she is located near an exit.

Display a Pet Fire Cling. Place a Pet Fire Cling in a prominent location near the front and back doors so responding emergency personnel will know what type of pet to look for and how many are in the home. These Pet Fire Safety window clings are available from sites like the aspca.org and adt.com. Floofins & Co. also provides these in our new client packets and the are also a favorite prize at our summer events.