Pierce Township officials are offering pet First Aid classes for residents.
"Knowing what to do if your dog or cat is hit by a car or chokes on his food can make a huge difference in the animal's chance of survival," said Pierce Township Assistant Fire Chief Scott Light.
"Training in pet first aid teaches proper techniques when it comes to immobilizing an animal, so he is not further injured as you transport him to the veterinarian."
Since the beginning of the year, Chief Light and other Pierce Township firefighters have been offering pet first aid classes to the community. For a fee of $15, you can take a two hour course that could help you save the life of your four-legged friends.
"These classes have been extremely popular," said Chief Light. "We've had over 50 people go through the training that includes practice on a dog-shaped CPR dummy."
The classes also cover how to apply a leg splint, how to control bleeding, proper ways to muzzle a dog, and what to do if an animal has ingested antifreeze.
Pierce Township, along with many other local fire departments, now has specially made oxygen masks for pets in their emergency vehicles, paid for by community members. Dogs and cats rescued from a burning house can be treated at the scene, after their owners are safe.
"We ask that anyone interested in taking the pet first aid classes, e-mail us at
gstrunk@piercetownship.org or call (513) 752-6273," said Light.
