Free ‘In Case of Fire’ pet safety decals offer from Protection One

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As pet owners, it’s hard not to worry about our animal friends when they’re left home alone. Are we right, or are we right? (We think we’re right.) After all, what would happen if, heaven forbid, there were a fire, earthquake or other disaster when we weren’t home to evacuate our little guys?

We shudder to think about it.

Fortunately, a nationwide security company called Protection One is stepping in to make pets a little safer and help owners feel a little more secure. It’s offering the handy decals at left free of charge on its website; owners simply have to order online, then affix the decals to a window or door to alert firefighters that pets are inside the home. (All you need to do is write the number of each type of pet in the home, peel and stick.)

No official tallies are kept on the number of pets killed in fires every year, but estimates range from the thousands all the way up to the hundreds of thousands.

Of course, ‘In Case of Fire’ decals like these (versions of which are available at a low price from a number of organizations -- although it’s hard to argue with free) are just one part of a fire-safety plan for pets. Beyond the decals, owners should make sure to include their pets in a detailed fire evacuation plan, taking extra precautions for pets that are left in a crate or pen while home alone. (According to the American Kennel Club, the No. 1 cause of dogs’ deaths during fire is that they were unable to escape a crate or pen.)

While you’re forming your evacuation plan, make sure to put together a kit with some pet necessities, like bowls and a small supply of food and water, copies of veterinary records and the phone number for your pet’s veterinarian, a favorite toy, and an extra collar and leash with duplicate ID tags. The AKC also recommends that pets be kept on the ground floor of multi-level homes when owners are absent so rescuers can easily reach them. And of course, be sure that pets are never left unsupervised around candles or other sources of open flame.

For more pet fire-safety tips, check out the AKC’s tip sheet. To order up to 3 free ‘In Case of Fire’ decals, visit Protection One’s website. Got any extra fire-safety tips for us? Let us know by leaving a comment!

-- Lindsay Barnett