Tags
Cats, Fire, Firefighters, pets
We had a little scare last week.
Sometime mid-afternoon, my human, the kid and I were woken up by the building fire alarms.
I was maddening. Everybody had to leave the building, companion animals included.
As it turned out, there was a fire indeed but it was a small one, thank ceiling cat. And a the superintendent place, no less.
The firefighters came put the fire out, turn the big fans off to get the smoke out of the building and after a while, everybody was allowed to go back in.
But that’s one of my human’s worse fears. That there’s a fire while she’s out and the kid and I will be trapped in the apartment.
Fortunately, the human’s home most of the time. No 9-5 job to take her away. But there’s always the risk.
Also, even if the human is home we realized we’re not prepared all that well for the eventuality. We only have one carrier. Sticking two stressed out kitties in one carrier may not be the best of ideas. On the other hand, going down the stairs with a carrier in each hand is a bit dangerous, especially if visibility is not that good due to smoke or the stairs are compromised due to earthquake.
To make matters more difficult, the human’s health issues make her unstable when navigating stairs, especially going down. So we’re worried.
We live on a fourth floor. There have been talks about finding a first floor apartment and that may happen eventually but for now, we’re stuck here.
We’ve been looking for a while for one of those stickers that say “please save my cat” but the Ottawa Fire Department doesn’t seem to make them anymore.
The human is thinking of making a simple sign herself and stick to the door with duct tape or something which is very Canadian of her.
Other than that, we’re not sure what else to do.
Do you have emergency plans for your companion animals? Are you prepared for the eventuality of fire (or an earthquake)?
When I saw that photo that broke my heart. thank goodness you are ok!! Google Fire Safety stickers for pets…I think there is one called “Wag” or something. I have one and can’t remember where I got it. It is a scary thing to think about indeed.
Yes, the human has been fretting about us ever since….
Write the ASPCA and get one for free!
Sticker, that is.
Even if I’m in Canada?
well I don’t know Jay. Check out your national organization and see if they have a similar offer. If not, email me your mail address. I think we have an extra around here I can send you.
oh ok. I got enough leads now. We’ll look into it and let you know. Thank you very much!
This is the site where we bought ours:
http://www.petrescuestickers.com/
Kisses
Nellie
Oh, thank you miss Nellie, we’ll look into it! <3
I found several on the Interwebs, but here is an example: http://www.zazzle.com/save_my_2_cats_fireman_stickers-217659473293274997
That’s a good idea, I didn’t know it existed!
Purrs
Thanks Texas, that’s a perfect one for us!
We have several elderly and one disabled person in our building and the fire department is aware of it. The 2 times they have had to come here they took care of the people that needed help getting out. They do not do the same for animals unless all the people are safe and it is not life threatening for the fire fighters. That’s hard but the way it must be.
That is terrible!
yes, they will always save the people as that is the priority. We had a house fire before me, when Mom and Dad had 3 cats…the fire dept came in, threw open every door, window and took off every screen…Mom was told to leave, with not one cat in site. It was awful for her. Luckily, all the cats had found places to hide, low to the ground, which all cats will do…the air is better down there. But Mom was just sure they would bolt out the windows through fear. They did not, not even Popcorn who had be rescued feral at age 2. Mom and Dad had a sticker on the front window, plain sight, but no matter, the fire people did not try to find the cats. Fortunately, Mom and Dad found them all eventually, but not before many tears and anguish. They have always had one carrier per cat/dog. But with the alarm going off, no cat will allow itself to be caught. One other time they were evacuated from their home in So Calif from a brush fire, and Mom could get the two indoor cats, but the two ferals outdoors, well, she just prayed a lot and both came through OK. It is a tough thing. We do have all we need now for earthquake even for me, but they still have to find me and catch me
Oh, miss Savvy, what a terrible story. Your poor mom and dad!
Both lil’ Satchie and I were very calm, actually. Didn’t try to run away but I’m sure that if the fire was on our floor and if there was a lot of smoke, the situation would be very different. And we’re on a fourth floor with no place to go and no place to hide!
Awww poor thing. Thank Cat you’re allright. We have stickers that says that there are animals in the house.
Yeah. We’re gonna order ours as soon as the paycheque comes in. But we’re very sad to hear that firefighters won’t bother even when the stickers are clearly indicating there’s a companion animal in the house
Oh Jay I think you’re right that everybody with pets needs “a plan” – you never know what’s gonna happen…..I see you’ve got lots of leads on a sticker for your door – we got ours from the HSUS (Humane Society). The pictures of the firefighter who saved the cat touched me and Mom when we saw them for the first time – we loved seeing them again – God bless firefighters and all rescue people – yes people are “first” but they do all they can for the animals as well.
Kitty hugs, Sammy
Yes, Sammy. Thank goodness there are good people out there still. However, my human thinks that pets and humans count as the same. She’s not very happy with the idea that people are first. I like the way my human thinks
Jay, don’t be silly. Of course your human will do everything she can to keep you from harm. She’s like that. You should not worry. Still, thanks for the reminder about the stickers to alert folks about my cats – we don’t have them.
Yeah, I know. But still. It’s scary
Very good ideas, Jay, and glad you are safe! We think if your mom added “eh?” somewhere in her homemade sign, that would be plenty Canadian. The ASPCA offers a Free Pet Safety Pack (http://www.aspca.org/about-us/free-aspca-stuff/free-pet-safety-pack.aspx), and I’m sure you can get one, even though you are Canadian and talk funny, if your RSPCA doesn’t.
Thank you for the link!
MOOOOOOOOOOOL
There are so many of us that Mommy thinks she would just throw us in the cars! We only have four carriers.
how many of you are there? please forgive me, I forget…
I refuse to put away the carrier. Because you never know. When there is a fire, I really don’t have time to seek for that carrier or to put it together.
I also want a sticker like that on my door!
Yeah, our carrier stays by the human’s bed at all times. It is never put away, precisely for that reason
Exactly!
Pillowcases used as bags can substitute for carriers in a pinch.
Oh, that’s good to know, Thanks!
I am so pleased that you are all safe!!
Thanks, Basil. The fire was small and contained so that’s good. Smoke never even reached our floor. But there are a lot of companion animals in this building and most of the humans were not even home because it was in the middle of the afternoon. That’s scary
Thanks for reminding us to plan for our pests…oooh sorry, I mean pets, of course. Check your vet for a sign to alert firefighters, etc. that you have pets and how many. That’s where I got ours.
MOL
Thanks to all the great comments, we have now found a couple that we liked and we’re going to order them
I’m glad you’re ok. It is difficult to carry two pet carriers, especially on the stairs.
I can imagine. And our human already has trouble going down the stairs on her own