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Wino you know wrote:let's try this again

I hope this doesn't sound smug, but I can only assume people who DON'T own pets really don't understand.

There's enough who own pets who wouldn't risk anything to save their pets. But there's also those who wouldn't risk their lives to save anyone. I've seen stories on the news from time to time where parents have run out of the house and waited for the fire department to get their children out. I've also seen those where they could have gotten out several times over and ended up dying because they couldn't get their children. Some people will do the same for pets. Some view pets as equals and as part of the family; some view animals as functional 'pets', about as valuable as any other object in the house.

I don't think it's even a matter of whether a person 'gets' it or not, it's a matter of what matters to them in the heat of a moment. A person can love something more than anything, but in a life or death situation when it comes down to it, some will save themselves before anything else.

Hopefully, no one ever has to find out first hand what they would have to do.

Not only do I have two stickers, one on the front and one on the back of the house, but my neighbor who works from home has a key and specific instructions to do everything in her power to save Balto from any danger. She has my permission to break whatever, do anything to get him out. I also leave the upstairs windows open (even in the winter) so that it would be obvious if anything were to go wrong when I'm not home. At least someone would hear his barks. Luckily this neighbor has a dog too so she understands how worried I am when I leave. And I would risk my life to save hers as well, no questions asked.

Now my other neighbor's kids....thats a whole other story....JK...LOL...although I do choose a dog's company over kids any day.

Let me just say after a fire in our houme I'd rather find myself standing in front of St. Peter with my dog in my arms then standing in front of Connie without her.

As a long time firefighter (I stopped about two years ago) I can tell you that we pay very little attention to the stickers. If we are in the house looking for a person and find an animal we will do everything we can to get it out, and then once we get it outside we do everything to make sure it's going to be okay. Going in after a pet while knowing there are no people inside won't happen unless the area where the animal is isn't involved in the fire.
And yes, I have two dogs. Part of our fire plan after getting the kid is getting the other kids out too.

Another thing along this same line is a wallet card, especially for those of us who live alone with our pets.

I have a card in my wallet next to my license that came from the ASPCA that states that I have pets at home, and a space for phone numbers to call in case I'm in an accident and don't return home. Usually Maisy is with me, but if I went to the store and didn't tell anyone (why would I?) and then ended up at the hospital instead of home, I would want someone to know. My neighbor, whose number is on the card, has keys to my house and takes care of Maisy at her house when I'm away, and she knows that she can do whatever necessary to ensure Maisy's safety.

I voted no. If I had dogs or kitties or furry critters I probably would. We just have a Betta fish and a Boa Constrictor. The fireman would have to spend WAYYYYY too much time getting the snake out while the rest of my house burned down, putting themselves and my house at further risk.