We hope you never need it, but you will be so much calmer and safer in a fire emergency if you have a plan in place. Here are some tips to get you started.
Prevention is so much better than reacting to a fire
Dogs themselves accidentally cause hundreds of house fires every year! Never leave your pup unattended with candles or any other type of live flame. Even a lit stove or a space heater can be a fire hazard, so please never leave your pet alone with one. Take a second to think like your dog when these things are ignited.
You should also take steps to prevent your pets from chewing on electrical cords. Damaged cords can cause a fire too, so please check yours frequently.
Make sure everyone knows what to do in an emergency—including your dog
Once you've created your emergency plan, make sure your entire family has it down. Practice that plan regularly, and include your dog in the practice. That way, if your pet becomes disoriented and scared during an actual fire, the earlier repetition of your escape route may help them remember what to do. Make a note of where your pet likes to sleep so it becomes part of the plan to check for them!
Placing a sticker on your door with a list of the pets inside helps the firefighters get all your pets out safely, even when you are unable to inform them yourself.
Keep a 'go bag' for your dog that's easy to grab if you have to evacuate quickly
You don't want to be searching the house in a panic for your dog's leash or their ID. Having those, and other important items (like a collapsible water dish, a small blanket, some poop bags,) all in one place can make the ensuing hours a bit easier... in ANY kind of emergency.
It’s also important to think about what you’ll do with your pets if you can't immediately return home. Do you have someplace to go where they will also be permitted? Will you need to take them to a kennel? Make sure you have these numbers and addresses in advance.
Emergency info only helps if it's up-to-date
Make sure your pet has an ID tag and/or a microchip with your current contact information on it. If your dog manages to get away from you during the emergency, your contact information could help reunite you more quickly. It’s also a good idea to keep a current photo of them, plus their medical records, somewhere safe like in your car or in the cloud. That way you’ll be able to find them quickly if you need them immediately after the fire.
If you can’t find your pet
We know it's a gut-wrenching thought, but please don’t risk your life looking for your pet in a burning house. If your dog doesn’t come to you immediately, leave an exterior door open and call for your dog safely from outside. The firefighters will do the rest.
Again, we hope none of you ever go through anything like this! However, we do hope you take the time to make sure you're prepared, just in case.