Fire Drills

[ToscasMom]

Does anybody here do fire drills with their pets? I've been doing them for a long time using "C'Mon Gang! Head Count! from various doors in the house, with treats of course. With my cats it took awhile to catch on, my males always come when I call them, but I had one female (RIP) who tended to "Take a message" and get back to me later. Anyways, I have Tosca in the mix now and the whole lot of them do very well during most of my "drills," except for one elderly cat who stays upstairs mostly, on his rocking chair. At least I would know where he was in the event of a fire.

I started doing fire drills about a decade ago when a friend of mine had a horrible fire in which she lost all her animals but one who came when she called.

Do you guys do this?

 

[cowgurl6254]

Well, my current house is tiny so I can't say that we have ever done this. I know we probably should, but honestly we haven't. I do have one of those cards by all the doors and windows though that says how many animals are inside in case there was a fire. We will probably do a fire drill when we get a bigger house.

 

[casablanca1]

Smart move to do it with cats. I don't practice evacuating the house, I practice evacuating my yard. We have rotten neighbors whose very large, very ill-behaved dogs are able to break into our yard. If we're out back and I hear the neighbors put out their dogs, I have gotten into the habit of yelling "House!" at my dog and heading straight for our back door. I just realized the other day that she obeys this like a shot, 100% better than she obeys any other command. Nothing like having the seriousness of real fear in your commands. She weighs probably 1/4 of what one of these 3 dogs weigh, so I'm very definite about us being safely inside when they're out.

 

[mrose_s]

wow. thats a good idea. i've always thought. first thing i would grab. my pets. everything els i dont need. but i have to save my pets. its harder now though. i could cll buster as he is usually with me. panda is either on my bed or int he kitchen or already outside. but that trainging for him might be a good idea. and i would have to grab Angus's mouse cage. carry her out. then run back for thiste ont he front verandah. lets hope it never happens. too scary

 

[Zoom]

That is a good idea! I've only got the one animal and he's glued to me 24/7, but when I add more to my menagerie it will definitely be something to work on.

 

[Kase]

Thats a great idea!

 

[Foxxian]

My appartment building checks their fire alarm every so often. My appartment is so small that it isnt hard to find Briar. When they were checking the alarms a week or so ago, I had opened the door to see his reaction to the alarm. Briar, the little devil, rushes out the door but then half way down the hall stops dead in his tracks lets out a whine and takes on that puppy fetal possition, hunkered down with his tail between his legs. Poor little guy wasnt sure what to make of the alarms.

 

[PoodleMommy]

I have thought of what I would do ALOT, but my cats wouldnt listen to me for anything.

The dogs are basically never out of sight and come when called, so they would not be a problem. The older cats kind of stay in the same place and could easily be found, but my young cat finds very unique places to hide and it does worry me, but I am not sure there is anything I can go about it.

But, not to hijack your thread... but everyone should remember to have something on their door that alerts rescuers to the type and amount of pets in your house. It is also helpful to have your vets number in case you can not be found.

The one I have on my door, I got at my vet... it says I have 3 cats and 2 dogs within my house, please rescue them, If i can not be found please take them to _____ Animal Hospital at ________ address.

If you cant find one, please make one!

Elissa

 

[cowgurl6254]

The one I have on my door, I got at my vet... it says I have 3 cats and 2 dogs within my house, please rescue them, If i can not be found please take them to _____ Animal Hospital at ________ address.

If you cant find one, please make one!

Elissa

My signs say the same thing and I got them at Petsmart. They were really cheap....like two dollars for a pack of five.

 

[Brattina88]

It's also a good idea to let your animals hear the alarm, so they don't freak and scatter if a situation ever arrises...

I have one of those signs... I made it on the computer, with up-to-date photos, their names, my cell # and vet info on the back & I illaminated it

 

[colliewog]

Does anybody here do fire drills with their pets? I've been doing them for a long time using "C'Mon Gang! Head Count! from various doors in the house, with treats of course. With my cats it took awhile to catch on, my males always come when I call them, but I had one female (RIP) who tended to "Take a message" and get back to me later. Anyways, I have Tosca in the mix now and the whole lot of them do very well during most of my "drills," except for one elderly cat who stays upstairs mostly, on his rocking chair. At least I would know where he was in the event of a fire.

I started doing fire drills about a decade ago when a friend of mine had a horrible fire in which she lost all her animals but one who came when she called.

Do you guys do this?

I don't do fire drills per se, but I do prefer the entire pack be where I can see them. I can yell "cookie" from anywhere in the house or yard and suddenly be swarmed by 5 very persistent dogs!