LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – All four major fire departments across the Las Vegas Valley undergo training so they are equipped to rescue house pets.
FOX5 reported on Clark County Fire Crews jumping into action to save a house cat last month, we have learned this training isn’t unique to Clark County.
Video captured shows the moment crews gave chest compressions and oxygen without hesitation to Robert Moseley’s cat ‘Pooka.’
“In this video, it shows the proper level of care,” Clark County K9 Paramedic Joey Virtuoso says while watching the rescue. “What we’re going to do is administer oxygen to them and help with supportive care, and that could be as simple as us looking like we’re petting them.”
Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Captain John Jolley says rescuing a pet starts with the search. When a fire breaks out, animals hide.
“We really have to be cognizant of doing the extra searching and search techniques specifically to find pets under beds, in closets, in corners,” Jolley says.
All departments agree it’s important to let fire crews do the rescuing, but if an owner has an idea about where their pet is hiding, it’s helpful to let firefighters know.
“You can let the firefighters know as we’re coming in. Like, ‘hey, he likes to hide under the bed upstairs in the room to the left,’” North Las Vegas Firefighter Ryan Beaulieu says. “That will be one of the first spots we check.”
Moseley says he used ‘Pooka’s’ Airtag to alert responding crews of his location, but he also thinks the reflective collar he was wearing aided in their search.
Once an animal is found, all four departments have animal oxygen masks on board every vehicle in different sizes.
CPR-trained crews are also on board, who are ready to help no matter the animals size or breed.
“A German Shepherd or a Husky, larger animals like that, we’ll have them on their side when we do CPR. Smaller dogs like Chihuahuas or Pekingese we’re going to do like an infant, with hands wrapped around,” Henderson Fire Department Medical Services Officer Sean Friedland says.
Thanks to this training, ‘Pooka’ is now recovered and back with his family.
Fire Officials also say it is important to include pets in home fire escape plans, like remembering to check their favorite hiding spots.
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