Nearly 500,000 pets experience a house fire yearly, and 1,000 of these are started by homeowners’ pets.1 That’s an alarming number, considering when a fire starts, pets don’t know how to keep themselves or their owners safe.
To raise awareness about this issue and educate owners about the hazards of fire exposure to pets, The American Kennel Club and ADT Security Services have launched National Pet Fire Safety Day. The National Pet Fire Safety Day is on July 15th every year. Learn more about it below.
When Is National Pet Fire Safety Day Celebrated?
The National Pet Fire Safety Day is celebrated every July 15th. It was launched in 2009 to raise awareness about home fires and their impact on pets.2
The need for such a day arose from the alarming number of house fires annually in the US. Since most homeowners leave their pets at home alone when they go to work, a fire that starts in your absence can be highly detrimental to your pet’s health—even deadly.
Even if the fire starts when you’re in the house, you must know the steps you can take to keep yourself and your pet safe. July 15th is an excellent day to learn about these things and partake in webinars or discussions regarding pet fire safety.
How to Celebrate National Pet Fire Safety Day
There’s not much to celebrate about National Pet Fire Safety Day since it’s more of a day for awareness rather than enjoyment, but you can use it as an annual day to review your fire preparedness and safety tips. Here are some things you can do:
1. Review Your Safety Plan
It’s imperative for every homeowner to have a fire safety plan. The plan should cover what you’ll do in case of a fire, what’s the safest exit out of the home, and the numbers you need to call when a fire starts.
Your plan should also have steps for pet safety. How will you keep your pets safe? Will you leave them at a friend’s or family’s place until your home recovers from the fire?
2. Check Fire Safety Devices
Ideally, you should check your smoke detectors and other fire safety devices once a month. Make sure that all these are in working order and check the batteries to ensure they’re replaced when needed.
3. Create an Emergency Kit
Just like you have an emergency kit for yourself, make one for your pet too. It should include water, medication, and food for your pet. If possible, also have their favorite treats and toys.
Fires can be anxiety-inducing for humans and animals alike. Your pet will appreciate their favorite toy being there for them in such a hard time.
4. Teach Commands
If you haven’t already taught commands to your pets, this might be the time to do so. Teach them to come to you when they are called. You can also introduce them to all exits in the house so they are not stuck trying to get out of the front door only in case of a fire.
5. Get a Pet Alert Window Cling
A Pet Alert window cling is a great way to inform firefighters that animals are at risk in your home. The sticker should have all the details about the pet, such as the type and number of pets so that the firefighters know what to expect when they enter your home.
6. Follow #NationalPetFireSafetyDay
If you want to learn what other pet owners do to keep their pets safe in a fire, follow the #NationalPetFireSafetyDay on social media. You will see posts from fellow pet owners. They might share instructions on preventing fires or dealing with them once it occurs.
7. Throw a Party
If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you can host a party on the day. Invite your pet’s friends over. Creating a fire safety-themed party is best so every invitee can learn something from the occasion.
Conclusion
The National Pet Fire Safety Day is a reminder that fires affect thousands of pets in the US every year. While some of these fires could have been prevented, others can be hard to control.
Regardless of the fire’s nature, you must know what to do in a fire to keep your pet safe. You don’t necessarily have to wait for National Pet Fire Safety Day to learn about these tips or access these resources, but it is a great day to share this information with other pet owners. You can use social media to raise awareness or word-of-mouth to educate those around you.
Featured Image Credit: Halfpoint, Shutterstock
