Alerting First Responders Can Be the Difference Between Life and Death for Companion Animals
For Immediate Release:
April 2, 2013
Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382
Newtown, Conn. -- In the wake of the death of a dog named Goliath and several baby chicks who were trapped in a house fire in Newtown on Wednesday, PETA is giving away door stickers that alert firefighters to the presence of companion animals to the first 1,000 Newtown-area residents who request one this month. The 4½-inch-by-6-inch bright-yellow stickers—which read, "In Case of Emergency, Please Save Our Animals"—picture a dog, a bird, a cat, a fish, and a rabbit and include space to write in the number of each species living in the home.
Residents interested in receiving a free sticker should e-mail Info@peta.org to file a request.
People living outside the area can purchase the stickers at PETA.org or make their own. PETA suggests laminating homemade stickers if they'll be exposed to weather.
"Many animals have died in house fires because firefighters were unaware that they were trapped inside," says PETA Associate Director Lindsay Rajt. "Simply alerting first responders to the presence of animals can mean that all family members survive a fire."
PETA routinely receives accounts of firefighters who have bravely rescued cats, dogs, and other animals from homes in the midst of a blaze. Even if the animals are unconscious from inhaling smoke, specially made oxygen masks have been used successfully to revive them.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.