In this article, we\u2019ll discuss more on the situations in which firefighters do and don\u2019t rescue pets, including putting to bed the idea that firefighters are known to get cats out of trees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have a furry four-legged friend or any other pet at home, this is one article you\u2019re not going to want to miss!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will a Firefighter Rescue Pets?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFires bring with them more than just flames, but intense heat, choking smoke, and falling rubble. If your pet is caught in the crosshairs during a fire, you might wonder what the extent of a firefighter\u2019s services entails in this instance. Let\u2019s discuss that now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if my pet is stuck in a tree?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s the old standard television and movie plot: a cat has gotten loose outside and climbed up a tree, and only the fire department can save the furry animal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since firefighters have tall ladders, the thought is they can drive their fire trucks to the site, pull the ladder out, and bring the kitty back down to safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ve probably seen this scenario so many times in movies and television that you think it\u2019s reality, right? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If so, you\u2019re certainly not to blame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might have even thought your cat was primarily supposed to drink milk because you saw that in a TV show too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"cat](\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/cat-in-a-tree.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLike the milk thing for cats (they should drink water, as milk upsets their stomach), the cat in a tree thing for firefighters isn\u2019t what it seems either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the accounts of firefighters (myself included), most say that in their careers, they\u2019ve never had to rescue a cat from a tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Would they if they had to? Absolutely. Many fire departments don\u2019t even offer this service though. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think about why that is. If your cat is in a tree but that tree isn\u2019t on fire, nor is the surrounding area, then it\u2019s a huge waste of the fire department\u2019s time and resources to come out and help the feline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The time the firefighters devote to coaxing the cat down could be spent saving lives and preserving homes, buildings, and other structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your cat ever does end up in a situation where he or she is stuck in a tree, you want to get in touch with your local tree service provider instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calling the fire department might get you referred to the tree people; the same is true if you contact your vet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if my pet is trapped beneath rubble?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhat if your poor pet gets trapped beneath rubble during or after a fire? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the fire is ongoing and the rest of the fire team is working steadily to put it out, the firefighters will attempt to rescue everyone, beginning with people. If they can safely remove your pet from the rubble, they will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the fire has already gone out, then it\u2019s a no-brainer that the firefighter will dislodge the rubble to help the poor kitty or puppy trapped underneath. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This 2016 article from The Chicago Tribune<\/em><\/a> shows that some firefighters will even use oxygen masks on pets that may have smoke inhalation damage, so your pet is definitely in good hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat if my pet is in a burning building?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s the big one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your home is on fire, you might not have time to get your whole family out as well as the animals. You will request that firefighters onsite go back into the burning building to rescue your poor pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether that\u2019s something the firefighting team can do comes down to a few factors. You see, firefighters have a hierarchy they follow when they perform rescues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They will always start with human victims, then animals. This can seem callous and even cold, but it\u2019s necessary to maximize the opportunity to save lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you couldn\u2019t get your whole family out of the building before the flames started, then the firefighter\u2019s first priority is to rescue that person or people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, if it\u2019s still safe to do so, they\u2019ll go in and rescue your pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even if everyone is already out of the building, a firefighter can\u2019t always go back in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Cat\"](\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/rescue-pet.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe situation might be deemed too dangerous for them to re-enter, so they sadly have to let the pet go. It\u2019s a gut-wrenching reality, but it does happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A firefighter engineer named Zachary Buhler made a statement on Quora<\/a> that nicely summarizes a firefighter\u2019s stance on the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cIn the context of a burning building we will generally enable a pet to make their own escape, or grab them if it does not expose any humans to additional risk of injury or death. The mentality is that we risk a lot to save a lot, risk a little to save a little. Unfortunately for Spot, Rover, or Fido as opposed to a child, if it would endanger a firefighter to save him it is not something that should be done. Ethically, one could debate this hierarchy of life concept but company and chief officers can be held criminally responsible for unnecessarily risking the well being of their subordinates.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nEven that instance of putting an oxygen mask on a dog is certainly heartwarming, but it\u2019s not something firefighters can always do legally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to this 2017 article from The Washington Post<\/em><\/a>, in some states, if you don\u2019t have a veterinary license and you administer medical care to a pet or another animal, you could face jail time or a hefty fine. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThat\u2019s the case in Maryland as of the time of publication, says the article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As of 2017, lawmakers in the state sought to change the rules so first responders<\/a> could save animals without the risk of punishment or being sued.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nColorado has a similar rule that\u2019s been in place since 2014 and Ohio since 2015, and 22 other states also let firefighters care for animals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although what a firefighter may do to save your pet or someone else\u2019s isn\u2019t legally allowed all the time, that doesn\u2019t stop firefighters who recognize when a pet needs help. Many firefighters have quite big hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can You Bring a Lost Dog or Cat to a Fire Station?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s another scenario you may have a question about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s say you found a pet in your neighborhood that doesn\u2019t belong to you. You ask around town and no one else claims the animal either. You don\u2019t think the dog or cat was involved in a fire, but can you bring the animal to a fire station<\/a> anyway?<\/p>\n\n\n\nActually, you can! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s the old standard television and movie plot: a cat has gotten loose outside and climbed up a tree, and only the fire department can save the furry animal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since firefighters have tall ladders, the thought is they can drive their fire trucks to the site, pull the ladder out, and bring the kitty back down to safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ve probably seen this scenario so many times in movies and television that you think it\u2019s reality, right? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If so, you\u2019re certainly not to blame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might have even thought your cat was primarily supposed to drink milk because you saw that in a TV show too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like the milk thing for cats (they should drink water, as milk upsets their stomach), the cat in a tree thing for firefighters isn\u2019t what it seems either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the accounts of firefighters (myself included), most say that in their careers, they\u2019ve never had to rescue a cat from a tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Would they if they had to? Absolutely. Many fire departments don\u2019t even offer this service though. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Think about why that is. If your cat is in a tree but that tree isn\u2019t on fire, nor is the surrounding area, then it\u2019s a huge waste of the fire department\u2019s time and resources to come out and help the feline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The time the firefighters devote to coaxing the cat down could be spent saving lives and preserving homes, buildings, and other structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your cat ever does end up in a situation where he or she is stuck in a tree, you want to get in touch with your local tree service provider instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Calling the fire department might get you referred to the tree people; the same is true if you contact your vet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What if your poor pet gets trapped beneath rubble during or after a fire? <\/p>\n\n\n\n If the fire is ongoing and the rest of the fire team is working steadily to put it out, the firefighters will attempt to rescue everyone, beginning with people. If they can safely remove your pet from the rubble, they will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the fire has already gone out, then it\u2019s a no-brainer that the firefighter will dislodge the rubble to help the poor kitty or puppy trapped underneath. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This 2016 article from The Chicago Tribune<\/em><\/a> shows that some firefighters will even use oxygen masks on pets that may have smoke inhalation damage, so your pet is definitely in good hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s the big one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your home is on fire, you might not have time to get your whole family out as well as the animals. You will request that firefighters onsite go back into the burning building to rescue your poor pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether that\u2019s something the firefighting team can do comes down to a few factors. You see, firefighters have a hierarchy they follow when they perform rescues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They will always start with human victims, then animals. This can seem callous and even cold, but it\u2019s necessary to maximize the opportunity to save lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you couldn\u2019t get your whole family out of the building before the flames started, then the firefighter\u2019s first priority is to rescue that person or people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, if it\u2019s still safe to do so, they\u2019ll go in and rescue your pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if everyone is already out of the building, a firefighter can\u2019t always go back in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The situation might be deemed too dangerous for them to re-enter, so they sadly have to let the pet go. It\u2019s a gut-wrenching reality, but it does happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A firefighter engineer named Zachary Buhler made a statement on Quora<\/a> that nicely summarizes a firefighter\u2019s stance on the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the context of a burning building we will generally enable a pet to make their own escape, or grab them if it does not expose any humans to additional risk of injury or death. The mentality is that we risk a lot to save a lot, risk a little to save a little. Unfortunately for Spot, Rover, or Fido as opposed to a child, if it would endanger a firefighter to save him it is not something that should be done. Ethically, one could debate this hierarchy of life concept but company and chief officers can be held criminally responsible for unnecessarily risking the well being of their subordinates.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Even that instance of putting an oxygen mask on a dog is certainly heartwarming, but it\u2019s not something firefighters can always do legally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to this 2017 article from The Washington Post<\/em><\/a>, in some states, if you don\u2019t have a veterinary license and you administer medical care to a pet or another animal, you could face jail time or a hefty fine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s the case in Maryland as of the time of publication, says the article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As of 2017, lawmakers in the state sought to change the rules so first responders<\/a> could save animals without the risk of punishment or being sued.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Colorado has a similar rule that\u2019s been in place since 2014 and Ohio since 2015, and 22 other states also let firefighters care for animals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although what a firefighter may do to save your pet or someone else\u2019s isn\u2019t legally allowed all the time, that doesn\u2019t stop firefighters who recognize when a pet needs help. Many firefighters have quite big hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s another scenario you may have a question about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s say you found a pet in your neighborhood that doesn\u2019t belong to you. You ask around town and no one else claims the animal either. You don\u2019t think the dog or cat was involved in a fire, but can you bring the animal to a fire station<\/a> anyway?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actually, you can! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat if my pet is trapped beneath rubble?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What if my pet is in a burning building?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCan You Bring a Lost Dog or Cat to a Fire Station?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"lost](\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/rescue-dog.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n