It’s July and Jean Luc needs to talk about something very serious. Fire. And no, I’m not talking about the fire in my belly every time I think about cookies. I am talking about real fires and the danger associated with them.
July 15th is National Pet Fire Safety Day. The American Kennel Club
and ADT Security established this recognition in 2008 to highlight how
pets are affected by home fires and to serve as a reminder tosafeguard our
furry family members (even dogs)!.
🐾 Alarming Statistics
- around 500,000 pets are affected by house fires annually across the U.S.
- approximately 40,000 pets die each year in residential fires, mostly from smoke inhalation nearly 1,000 home fires each year are accidentally ignited by pets
Here at Orlando Cat Café, we have been a champion of pet fire safety by donating pet oxygen mask kits to Lake County Fire Rescue. This has become an annual tradition for us with our goal of having every Lake County Fire Rescue Truck equipped with this lifesaving equipment. These masks are specially designed to fit the unique nose structure of animals from as small as a mouse to as large as a horse and are reusable. Chief Jim Dickerson says that Lake County crews use these masks 2-3 times per year! Smoke inhalation is the leading cause of death in home fires and oxygen masks can make the difference between life and death!
There are things that your human can do to protect you:
🔒 Pet Fire Safety Tips
- Keep candles attended and away from curious paws/tails.
- Secure stove knobs to prevent pets from activating burners
- Invest in monitored smoke alarms and attach a “Pet Alert” sticker indicating how many pets are inside
- Plan evacuation routes and train pets to exit on command—just like people practice drills
