One of the stereotypes many people have about firefighters is that they rescue cats stuck in trees. Most fire departments don’t perform this service – as one coworker said to me, “Have you ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree?” Nonetheless, dealing with animals is an integral part of the job and one that can bring unique rewards and challenges.
Another part of the job description
Firefighters have always included animals in their rescue efforts. They do so because animals are part of the community they serve and function in many roles alongside humans – as companion pets, as service and working animals, as livestock, and as part of the wild natural world. Animals have value in all these roles, and people really care about the animals in their lives. They will risk their own lives for them and expect you to do the same as emergency responders.
So firefighters go on calls to rescue deer from sludge pits and dogs that have fallen through the ice on frozen ponds. They fish horses out of swimming pools and extricate racoons from chimneys. In more than one instance, they have adopted kittens rescued from structure fires.
Saving animals is also about saving people. Part of the reason my own fire department committed to training everyone in ice rescue and purchased specialized equipment was because every winter, more than one dog would fall through the thin ice of a frozen pond, and often the dog’s owner would be the next to run out on the ice and fall through. Dog rescues quickly turned into human rescues, but once the community knew that we were equipped and ready to rescue their canine companions, they were less likely to venture onto the ice themselves and more likely to call 911.
How to prepare for animal rescues
Firefighters can do a lot of good for animals in need just through effort and commitment to the task. But as with all other aspects of the job, it helps to have specialized training and equipment.
Several organizations offer training for first responders in dealing with animal emergencies. These trainings might focus on animals likely to be found in homes or on larger animals such as livestock. Important aspects of training include how to approach a frightened animal, how to evaluate and treat injuries, and conducting risk/benefit assessments prior to rescue efforts.
Additionally, there is specialized equipment designed to aid injured animals such as splints, bandages and oxygen masks. For airway management, the American Red Cross provides specific guidelines for doing CPR on a pet.
Animal rescues inspire gratitude and impact crews
If anyone doubts the value of this type of preparedness and response beyond just saving an individual animal, consider that the recent rescue of a puppy from heating ductwork led to more than half a dozen national news stories featuring the firefighters who saved the dog.
“That is a prayer answered,” the emotional dog owner said in the news video. “... Thank you so much for not giving up. You guys made a miracle today.”
Money cannot buy this type of positive PR and goodwill for a fire department. These are contentious times for all government and public service agencies, and fire departments are not immune from those who look for conflict and polarization in every encounter. But animals have a way of bringing people together, and caring for animals as emergency responders will not only inspire the admiration and support of the community but will also bring great personal satisfaction to those who participate in these efforts.
