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Fire and Pets

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E

Something that we all need to think about.........The possibility of fire in your home when your pets are inside.  The thought scares me to death.  Recently on the news there was a story about a family who had a house fire.  They were all able to get out but their cats were not.  One cat waas saved by firefighters but 3 others died.

I also wrote a blog in December about memebers of my kennel club who were out on Christmas Eve when their house caught fire.  They lost 14 show dogs. Only some pups and the mother were saved.  This gives me pause to think; what can be done to minimize this threat to our pets.  If they are in the house they will be trapped and most likely no one will know to look for them.

How about if we had a way to let firemen and neighbors know who was in there and WHERE?  Well. they do this with kids so why not pets?  What if we were to get window stickers that indicated that a pet or more specifically how many pets, were located in that room and put those on the outside of windows? 

I also think that a notice on the front door would be helpful.  I intend to implement these ideas soon and you may wish to also.  Most of us would be devastated if we lost our precious babies. 

Brian Luce
HomeStarr Realty Inc. - New Hope, PA
Associate Broker

It's sad but many pets seem to get spooked and hide in that situation.  I too have had a friend who lost 3 dogs in a fire. (2 of which ran back into the house after my friend carried them outside with him).  It's also sad (for the pets) that the Fireman (who do a fantastic and dangerous job) have to concentrate on the "humans" and many times won't go in for a pet.

It's a sad situation. Great Post to get everyone thinking.  Our 2 Schnauzers sleep in their "beds" in the corner of our room but you just don't know what they would think or where they would go if something like that happened.

Great post to keep everyone on there toes.  The best defense is prevention. 

Mar 24, 2008 04:22 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info
I keep my pets outside - that will keep them safe!
Mar 24, 2008 04:30 PM
Leslie Bloss, Bellevue Real Estate Professional
Bellevue, WA

Hi Gayle,

I have seen these stickers on the front doors of homes.   I looked for something on the internet and found this:

stickers 

Mar 24, 2008 04:51 PM
Marianne Sweet
Home Sweet Home Staging - Rochester Hills, MI
Home Sweet Home Staging, LLC Rochester Hills, MI

The ASPCA will send you stickers for free.  A donation would be greatly appreciated--they do wonderful work!  Click on this link:  http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_rescuesticker .  I have them on both a front and back window.

When my husband and I were newlyweds, an apartment in our building had a fire and we were evacuated.  I couldn't find our 2 cats, but thankfully, a neighbor noticed them in the window and climbed up to let them out.  We were truly blessed!

Mar 24, 2008 11:02 PM
Debbie Malone
Londeree's Real Estate & Property Management - Lynchburg, VA
From Lynchburg To The Lake (434) 546-0369
Gayle, thanks for this reminder! Right now, Duncan's crate in in the furthest place possible on the second floor. It's going to be moved to the first floor today.
Mar 25, 2008 12:28 AM
Jim Albano
Prudential Damiano Realty - Little Falls, NJ
Team - Jean-Marie Vantuno / Realtors North Jersey Real Estate
Great public service post Gayle. I'm sure our furry friends across the nation appreciate your thinking of them. They may be the ones overlooked in an emergency - thanks for the heads up. 
Mar 25, 2008 03:10 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher
Gayle, Our fire department gives out notices to put on your front and back doors and I have additional ones on my windows.  They specifify how many and what type of pets I have.
Mar 26, 2008 01:43 AM
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX
Gayle, this is an excellent idea. They have been our friends and some animals save their parents lives by awakening them for the fire. They deserve to get out in time too. Later in the rain! Deb
Mar 27, 2008 04:29 PM
Patrice Estess
PB APPRAISALS - Kerhonkson, NY
I have a sticker on my door but the mere thought of losing them makes me ill...I have lots of doors in my home and would hope that I(or firefighters)  could get to them through one of the doors in time...Very scary thought...
Mar 28, 2008 04:42 AM
Tricia Flicker-Miller
Cressy & Everett Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
Cressy & Everett
Several years ago I contacted one of our local fire departments and asked if they had any of those stickers because I saw one on someone else's house.  In no way, do I not appreciate the hard work firefighters do, that I simply could not.  They save thousands of lives every year.  I was however a little dispappointed though when whomever I spoke to told me they don't provide, support, or even notice those stickers in most occasions.  He explained to me that while they make every effort to get everyone and every pet out of the house, they simply cannot risk their lives, searching for animals that are unpreditable in times of great emergency's such as fire. I guess I understand, but explain that to a 6 year old. Again, I am in no way trying to bash anyone as I honestly understand completely. But if you do ever find these stickers, please let me know. I would still proudly display 4 animals on mine! I see other responses here that people are able to get them from their fire departments. Maybe I just got the wrong guy? Or maybe it's different for each area?
Mar 30, 2008 05:35 AM