Wag'N, the pet emergency management organization, recommends that pet parents affected by Hurricane Sandy, and still wishing to partake in this years trick or treating, avoid involving their pets in this year's Halloween outdoor festivities. Contaminated flood waters, downed power lines posing electrocution risks, roaming displaced wildlife and wreckage debris are enough to pose a threat to both humans and their furry companions. For those that have lost power and must manage using candles, exposed open flames alone pose a serious threat to their homes without adding extra spooky decorations. In terms of outdoor participation, the organization reminds dog owners that dogs combine observation with mental map-making as well as smell and hearing to get their bearings and retrace their steps. By memorizing landmarks such as trees, fields, previous markings or even a neighbor's house. Since some or all of these landmarks may have been affected by the storm, it may become extremely hard for their dog to find its way home. Additionally, any standard plan to visit a local veterinarian should a pet emergency occur may be further hindered in areas affected by Sandy as veterinary clinics may themselves not yet be fully operational, one day after the end of this tragic event.
Wag'N, recommends that pet parents not immediately affected by Hurricane Sandy consider the following safety tips on this Halloween:
Remember that for pets, Halloween exerts a lot of strange, non-natural and abnormal behavior, attitudes, smells, food and clothing. As much fun as the holiday is, pet parents need to be mindful of certain hazards that may have a devastating effect on their pet’s health. Wag’N Enterprises encourages pet
parents to create a Halloween safety plan.
The safety plan should include extra precautions needed for protecting your family, trick-or-treaters, and the pets. Every year, hundreds of pets become frightened by noises and strangers and ran outdoors during the "trick or treating" activities. It is best for dogs to get a long walk during day light prior to zombies, Captain America, Ninjago, Bane, Monster High and Angry-Birds look-alikes start invading the streets.
Pets may be scared or spooked by the noise and strange looks of new oddly dressed strangers and may choose to bark aggressively, jump on, bite or bolt out the front door. All that while trying to defend or out of fear.
Wag’N cautions that open doors will provide for escape routes, children to scare and chase pets, as well as hazardous treats. Wag’N recommends pets are kept in an enclosed room away from the racket, crated, or in a dog pen hindering access to the home’s main entrance.
Whether the pet goes out or stays confined at home there will be many chances for it to run off or try too. All pets should wear up-to-date pet tags and be micro chipped before guests and/or trick-or-treaters start showing up. If for any reason the pet escapes and gets lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can increase the chances the pet will be swiftly reunited with its family. Owners of black cats should consider keeping their cats inside starting one week prior to Halloween to protect them against people that may want to snatch them for strange practical jokes.
Trick or treating with dogs is not recommended for most pet parents. Some normally sociable pets may get spooked. Should the pet parents choose to dress up their pet, the costume needs to be fitted comfortably ensuring that the pet can see and breathe well. If the costume includes a face mask, there should be no lose hanging parts that may be ingested and areas near the snout and mouth need to allow for easy breathing and drinking.
Inside the home, dog tails can knock over candles. Keep candles, jack-o-lanterns, decorations and ornaments out of reach of both pets and small children. Halloween lights can cause digestive upsets or electrocution if swallowed, while electrical cords can cause electrocution if chewed.
Children and adults in your household should be reminded of how dangerous candy and chocolate can be to pets. Bromamine, found in chocolate is extremely toxic to dogs. Leaving unsupervised pets with chew toys such as raw hides, bones, pig ears and greenies is not recommended as pets may choke on them and the lack of supervision may be deadly to the pet. Candies containing the artificial sweetener Xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of Xylitol sweetener can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, leading to lack of coordination, seizures, low blood sugar and liver failure within hours. Xylitol is found in candy and gum. Other hazardous foods and items include tin foil, cellophane candy wrappers, meat strings, toothpicks, cookie dough, cooked bones and alcohol.
Once the trick-or-treaters are gone, pets can be rewarded with short walks, few treats and some TLC. Late night walkers must remain cautious of sneaky humans spooking pets and passersby as well as left-over-goodies on sidewalks.
Wag'N highly recommends pet parents keep important life saving phone numbers both in their cell phone registry and displayed on paper copy in a prominent well traveled area of the residence. Important numbers include their emergency veterinarian's phone number, the ASPCA Poison Control Center Number (888) 4264435 and the Regular Poison Control Number (800)222-1222.
Much like many other holidays, Wag’N reminds pet parents that human logic is not common pet sense!
Awareness and caution will keep tails wagging this holiday season.
For more information about Wag’N Pet Emergency Management, visit www.wagnpetsafety.com.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
PRESS RELEASE: New Emergency Preparedness Kit Features Forms for Pet Sitters and Pet Hotels
Wag’N Rover Respond’R® v3.0 Mobile Emergency Information Kit helps pets and their owners prepare for a variety of emergencies.
Herndon, VA (PRWEB) February 26, 2012. Pet safety innovator Wag’N Enterprises this week unveiled a comprehensive addition to their Wag’N Rover Respond’R® Mobile Emergency Information Kit. The updated kit now gives pet owners the ability to communicate vital information to pet sitters and pet boarding facilities.
Accidents happen and, whether a pet travels with its owner, gets boarded at a pet hotel or remains at home whilst supervised by pet sitters, emergency situations can greatly impact the well being of all four-legged friends. When important pet information cannot be communicated due to parental impairment, standard and critical pet care may be delayed or suspended. Wag’N Enterprises created the Wag’N Rover Respond’R® v3.0 Mobile Emergency Information Kit to equip pet parents with all the pet emergency preparedness documents necessary in case of an emergency, and to help keep an unfortunate situation from becoming a devastating one.
Being prepared for a pet-related medical emergency, accident, or disaster is invaluable—especially when tensions are high. This interactive kit assists pet owners in providing EMS, police, as well as fire and rescue responders with important contact and pet information.
“This updated version of the Wag’N Rover Respond’R® kit gives pet owners peace of mind whether they are traveling with their pets, away from home and/or away from their pets, “ says Ines de Pablo, President & CEO and national pet safety expert and advocate. “By having these easy to complete, yet comprehensive preparedness forms at their fingertips, pet sitters and pet boarding facilities now possess the tools to take even better care of their four legged guests.”
Wag’N also announced that its Wag’N Rover Respond’R® Mobile Emergency Information Kit version 3.0 and all further releases will be included as an fundamental element of its Personalized Emergency Training services (PETS) Program™, aimed at providing top of line pet safety and pet emergency management training services to pet boarding facilities, kennels, animal shelters and pet sitters. “Wag’N take an all-hazards approach to pet safety. Any facility that kennels and cares for pets needs to have plans in place to respond to natural and/or man-made emergencies to keep it from becoming a disaster.” De Pablo stated.
Pet owners can complete the interactive PDF forms on their computer, or print them out and/or fill the information in by hand. One copy goes to the pet sitter or boarding facility, and one copy stays with the pet owner, tucked safely into the folder pocket of the kit. After filling out the required documentation, pet parents simply place the completed Rover Respond’R® 3.0 kit in the glove box of their vehicle and affix the included alert decals to tell first responders about its existence and whereabouts.
The following items are included in the Wag’N Rover Respond’R® v3.0 kit:
1 Mobile Emergency Pocket Folder (document carrier)
1 Wag’N Rover Respond’R® Vehicle Alert Decals
2 Wag’N Rover Respond’R® Home Alert Decals to alert first responders of the number of pets in the home.
2 Wag’N Rover Respond’R® Animal Transport Forms for first responder use during an emergency only.
1 Wag’N Pet Passport® for documenting a pet’s medical history, proof of ownership and vaccinations, a photo of the pet and emergency contact numbers.
1 CD-ROM with interactive documentation forms including a Pet Owner Information Form, Emergency Contact Form, Pet Profile Form, Pet Boarding and Pet Sitter Forms, printable Emergency Wallet Card, printable Lost Pet Poster and Printable Stolen Pet Poster.
The Wag’N Rover Respond’R® v3.0 kit is affordably priced at $34.95, and is available for both retail and wholesale distribution. Since pet parents can save all the information on their computers, information can easily be updated and reprinted when they need it and no matter what types and numbers of pets they own. “The only constant is change. As life wags along, pet parents can now easily prepare for the unexpected” De Pablo affirmed.
For more information, please visit http://www.wagnpetsafety.com/RoverRespondR
About Wag’N Enterprises
Founded in 2007, Wag’N Enterprises (http://www.wagnpetsafety.com) offers pet emergency management solutions to service industries, first responders and pet parents to effectively mitigate, prepare for and respond to emergencies that impact pet health and safety. Executive Director of Pet Emergency Management Division Ines de Pablo holds a Master’s Degree in Risk, Crisis & Emergency Management from the prominent George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and has more than a decade of extensive field training experience under her belt. Wag’N Pet Safety Gear is a branded and extensive collection of purposefully designed tools and services giving people and their pets peace of mind in case of an emergency.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
PRESS RELEASE: Wag’N Enterprises and Invisible Fence Donate Pet Oxygen Kits to M.C.F.R.S
Donation of 60 life-saving kits will help county save pets’ lives after emergencies
The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (M.C.F.R.S.) is getting new tools in its emergency response arsenal thanks to some pet product companies.
Wag’N Enterprises, Invisible Fence Brand of Montgomery County and Invisible Fence Brand of Maryland have teamed up to donate 60 pet oxygen mask kits to M.C.F.R.S. on Oct. 26. The $4,200 donation has been made possible through a combined effort of Wag’N’s O2 Fur Life® program and Invisible Fence® Brand’s Project Breathe initiative.
“The goal of both our programs is to place these life-saving pet oxygen masks in the hands of first responders throughout North America,” said Ines de Pablo, Wag’N’s executive director of Pet Emergency Management Division. “Too many animals get injured and die every year due to preventable fire related emergencies. Incident mitigation combined with pet oxygen mask kits can help save countless pet lives.”
Pet oxygen masks work similarly to those used on humans, de Pablo said. The kits contain three different sizes of masks that can accommodate different sizes of animals – everything from a ferret to a foal – in addition to three oxygen tubes and instructional materials. A demonstration on how these masks are used may be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VtEPuHrGJ8
De Pablo said both companies receive numerous requests annually for kit donations; however, the M.C.F.R.S. donation was especially poignant. In December 2010, Montgomery County resident Laurie White lost her home in a fire, but her life and those of her pets were saved by first responders from M.C.F.R.S. To thank them, White donated two kits to M.C.F.R.S. Station 31, and the discussion began on how the county could obtain additional kits.
Now, through Wag’N and Invisible Fence® Brand’s donation, all 36 Montgomery County stations will have kits to help pet parents like White during an emergency. De Pablo said she is very happy to include M.C.F.R.S. among the more than 3,000 North American first responder departments that have received kits in through the Wag’N and Invisible Fence programs.
For more information about O2 Fur Life, please visit www.wagnpetsafety.com/pet_oxygen_masks.html. For more information on Invisible Fence® Brand’s Project Breathe, please visit www.invisiblefence.com/Giving-Back/Project-Breathe.
About Wag’N Enterprises
Founded in 2007, Wag’N Enterprises (www.wagnpetsafety.com) offers pet emergency management solutions to service industries, first responders and pet parents to effectively mitigate, prepare for and respond to emergencies that impact pet health and safety. Executive Director of Pet Emergency Management Division Ines de Pablo holds a Master’s Degree in Risk, Crisis & Emergency Management from the prestigious George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and has more than a decade of extensive field training experience under her belt. Wag’N Pet Safety Gear is a branded and extensive collection of purposefully designed tools and services giving people and their pets’ peace of mind in case of an emergency.
About Invisible Fence® Brand
Invisible Fence® Brand indoor and outdoor pet safety and behavioral solutions are sold nationwide by professional dealers. Invisible Fence® Brand Dealers offer customized installation and certified Perfect Start™ Pet Training to create an environment of safety and freedom for dogs and cats. For more information, visit www.invisiblefence.com.
The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (M.C.F.R.S.) is getting new tools in its emergency response arsenal thanks to some pet product companies.
Wag’N Enterprises, Invisible Fence Brand of Montgomery County and Invisible Fence Brand of Maryland have teamed up to donate 60 pet oxygen mask kits to M.C.F.R.S. on Oct. 26. The $4,200 donation has been made possible through a combined effort of Wag’N’s O2 Fur Life® program and Invisible Fence® Brand’s Project Breathe initiative.
“The goal of both our programs is to place these life-saving pet oxygen masks in the hands of first responders throughout North America,” said Ines de Pablo, Wag’N’s executive director of Pet Emergency Management Division. “Too many animals get injured and die every year due to preventable fire related emergencies. Incident mitigation combined with pet oxygen mask kits can help save countless pet lives.”
Pet oxygen masks work similarly to those used on humans, de Pablo said. The kits contain three different sizes of masks that can accommodate different sizes of animals – everything from a ferret to a foal – in addition to three oxygen tubes and instructional materials. A demonstration on how these masks are used may be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VtEPuHrGJ8
De Pablo said both companies receive numerous requests annually for kit donations; however, the M.C.F.R.S. donation was especially poignant. In December 2010, Montgomery County resident Laurie White lost her home in a fire, but her life and those of her pets were saved by first responders from M.C.F.R.S. To thank them, White donated two kits to M.C.F.R.S. Station 31, and the discussion began on how the county could obtain additional kits.
Now, through Wag’N and Invisible Fence® Brand’s donation, all 36 Montgomery County stations will have kits to help pet parents like White during an emergency. De Pablo said she is very happy to include M.C.F.R.S. among the more than 3,000 North American first responder departments that have received kits in through the Wag’N and Invisible Fence programs.
For more information about O2 Fur Life, please visit www.wagnpetsafety.com/pet_oxygen_masks.html. For more information on Invisible Fence® Brand’s Project Breathe, please visit www.invisiblefence.com/Giving-Back/Project-Breathe.
About Wag’N Enterprises
Founded in 2007, Wag’N Enterprises (www.wagnpetsafety.com) offers pet emergency management solutions to service industries, first responders and pet parents to effectively mitigate, prepare for and respond to emergencies that impact pet health and safety. Executive Director of Pet Emergency Management Division Ines de Pablo holds a Master’s Degree in Risk, Crisis & Emergency Management from the prestigious George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and has more than a decade of extensive field training experience under her belt. Wag’N Pet Safety Gear is a branded and extensive collection of purposefully designed tools and services giving people and their pets’ peace of mind in case of an emergency.
About Invisible Fence® Brand
Invisible Fence® Brand indoor and outdoor pet safety and behavioral solutions are sold nationwide by professional dealers. Invisible Fence® Brand Dealers offer customized installation and certified Perfect Start™ Pet Training to create an environment of safety and freedom for dogs and cats. For more information, visit www.invisiblefence.com.
Friday, October 7, 2011
PRESS RELEASE: Wag’N Halloween Pet Safety Warning for 2011
For pets, Halloween exerts a lot of strange, non-natural and abnormal behavior, attitudes, smells, food and clothing. As much fun as the holiday is, pet parents need to be mindful of certain hazards that may have a devastating effect on their pet’s health. Wag’N Enterprises encourages pet
parents to create a Halloween safety plan.
The safety plan should include extra precautions needed for protecting your family, trick-or-treaters, and the pets. Every year, hundreds of pets become frightened by noises and strangers and ran outdoors during the "trick or treating" activities. It is best for dogs to get a long walk during day light prior to zombies, princesses and Charlie Sheen look-alikes start invading the streets.
Pets may be scared or spooked by the noise and strange looks of new oddly dressed strangers and may choose to bark aggressively, jump on, bite or bolt out the front door. All that while trying to defend or out of fear.
Wag’N cautions that open doors will provide for escape routes, children to scare and chase pets, as well as hazardous treats. Wag’N recommends pets are kept in an enclosed room away from the racket, crated, or in a dog pen hindering access to the home’s main entrance.
Whether the pet goes out or stays confined at home there will be many chances for it to run off or try too. All pets should wear up-to-date pet tags and be micro chipped before guests and/or trick-or-treaters start showing up. If for any reason the pet escapes and gets lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can increase the chances the pet will be swiftly reunited with its family. Owners of black cats should consider keeping their cats inside starting one week prior to Halloween to protect them against people that may want to snatch them for strange practical jokes.
Trick or treating with dogs is not recommended for most pet parents. Some normally sociable pets may get spooked. Should the pet parents choose to dress up their pet, the costume needs to be fitted comfortably ensuring that the pet can see and breathe well. If the costume includes a face mask, there should be no lose hanging parts that may be ingested and areas near the snout and mouth need to allow for easy breathing and drinking.
Inside the home, dog tails can knock over candles. Keep candles, jack-o-lanterns, decorations and ornaments out of reach of both pets and small children. Halloween lights can cause digestive upsets or electrocution if swallowed, while electrical cords can cause electrocution if chewed.
Children and adults in your household should be reminded of how dangerous candy and chocolate can be to pets. Bromamine, found in chocolate is extremely toxic to dogs. Leaving unsupervised pets with chew toys such as raw hides, bones, pig ears and greenies is not recommended as pets may choke on them and the lack of supervision may be deadly to the pet. Candies containing the artificial sweetener Xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of Xylitol sweetener can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, leading to lack of coordination, seizures, low blood sugar and liver failure within hours. Xylitol is found in candy and gum. Other hazardous foods and items include tin foil, cellophane candy wrappers, meat strings, toothpicks, cookie dough, cooked bones and alcohol.
Once the trick-or-treaters are gone, pets can be rewarded with short walks, few treats and some TLC. Late night walkers must remain cautious of sneaky humans spooking pets and passersby as well as left-overgoodies on sidewalks.
Wag'N highly recommends pet parents keep important life saving phone numbers both in their cell phone registry and displayed on paper copy in a prominent well traveled area of the residence. Important numbers include their emergency veterinarian's phone number, the ASPCA Poison Control Center Number (888) 4264435 and the Regular Poison Control Number (800) 222-1222.
Unlike many other holidays, Wag’N reminds pet parents that human logic is not common pet sense!
Awareness and caution will keep tails wagging this holiday season.
For more information about Wag’N Enterprises, visit www.wagnpetsafety.com.
parents to create a Halloween safety plan.
The safety plan should include extra precautions needed for protecting your family, trick-or-treaters, and the pets. Every year, hundreds of pets become frightened by noises and strangers and ran outdoors during the "trick or treating" activities. It is best for dogs to get a long walk during day light prior to zombies, princesses and Charlie Sheen look-alikes start invading the streets.
Pets may be scared or spooked by the noise and strange looks of new oddly dressed strangers and may choose to bark aggressively, jump on, bite or bolt out the front door. All that while trying to defend or out of fear.
Wag’N cautions that open doors will provide for escape routes, children to scare and chase pets, as well as hazardous treats. Wag’N recommends pets are kept in an enclosed room away from the racket, crated, or in a dog pen hindering access to the home’s main entrance.
Whether the pet goes out or stays confined at home there will be many chances for it to run off or try too. All pets should wear up-to-date pet tags and be micro chipped before guests and/or trick-or-treaters start showing up. If for any reason the pet escapes and gets lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can increase the chances the pet will be swiftly reunited with its family. Owners of black cats should consider keeping their cats inside starting one week prior to Halloween to protect them against people that may want to snatch them for strange practical jokes.
Trick or treating with dogs is not recommended for most pet parents. Some normally sociable pets may get spooked. Should the pet parents choose to dress up their pet, the costume needs to be fitted comfortably ensuring that the pet can see and breathe well. If the costume includes a face mask, there should be no lose hanging parts that may be ingested and areas near the snout and mouth need to allow for easy breathing and drinking.
Inside the home, dog tails can knock over candles. Keep candles, jack-o-lanterns, decorations and ornaments out of reach of both pets and small children. Halloween lights can cause digestive upsets or electrocution if swallowed, while electrical cords can cause electrocution if chewed.
Children and adults in your household should be reminded of how dangerous candy and chocolate can be to pets. Bromamine, found in chocolate is extremely toxic to dogs. Leaving unsupervised pets with chew toys such as raw hides, bones, pig ears and greenies is not recommended as pets may choke on them and the lack of supervision may be deadly to the pet. Candies containing the artificial sweetener Xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of Xylitol sweetener can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, leading to lack of coordination, seizures, low blood sugar and liver failure within hours. Xylitol is found in candy and gum. Other hazardous foods and items include tin foil, cellophane candy wrappers, meat strings, toothpicks, cookie dough, cooked bones and alcohol.
Once the trick-or-treaters are gone, pets can be rewarded with short walks, few treats and some TLC. Late night walkers must remain cautious of sneaky humans spooking pets and passersby as well as left-overgoodies on sidewalks.
Wag'N highly recommends pet parents keep important life saving phone numbers both in their cell phone registry and displayed on paper copy in a prominent well traveled area of the residence. Important numbers include their emergency veterinarian's phone number, the ASPCA Poison Control Center Number (888) 4264435 and the Regular Poison Control Number (800) 222-1222.
Unlike many other holidays, Wag’N reminds pet parents that human logic is not common pet sense!
Awareness and caution will keep tails wagging this holiday season.
For more information about Wag’N Enterprises, visit www.wagnpetsafety.com.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
PRESS RELEASE: Wag’N Enterprises Observes Fire Safety Awareness Month with Free Pet Oxygen Kit Shipping
Kit manufacturer McCulloch Medical offers to pay shipping costs, help first responders save money
A Virginia-based pet safety company is making it easier for first responders to keep pets safe during October.
Wag’N Enterprises’ O2 Fur Life® program provides first responders a channel to order life-saving pet oxygen kits. Throughout October, the company and kit-manufacturer McCulloch Medical are offering free shipping in observance of National Fire Safety Awareness Month.
“The goal of O2 Fur Life is to get all first responders in North America to carry pet oxygen mask kits to help distressed pets after an emergency,” Ines de Pablo, Wag’N’s executive director of Pet Emergency Management Division, said.
“McCulloch Medical generously offered to cover all shipping costs for first responder, direct and sponsor O2 Fur Life orders placed between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31. This is a great way to save pets and money.”
O2 Fur Life was created by de Pablo in 2008 when she realized that aftercare of pets rescued from emergencies, such as fires, was something that most first responders weren’t equipped to handle. Most humans require oxygen after an emergency, and pets are no different, de Pablo said.
Now, de Pablo’s work has placed 2,460 life-saving pet oxygen kits in more than 1,050 first responder departments in the United States and Canada.
Pet oxygen kits work similarly to those used on humans. The kits contain three different sizes of masks that can accommodate different size animals –everything from a ferret to a foal. A demonstration on how these masks are used may be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VtEPuHrGJ8.
De Pablo said Wag’N doesn’t turn a profit from providing the kits to first responders because they are sold at cost. However, consumers may also purchase the kits at a slight markup with the profits going right back into the program so that Wag’N can donate masks to other first responders.
Pet oxygen kits start at $70 for all first responders and sponsor orders and $90 for private consumers. More information is available on Wag’N’s website at www.wagnpetsafety.com/pet_oxygen_masks.html.
Since the fall of 2009, Wag’N has been working diligently with McCulloch Medical to raise pet safety awareness and pet oxygen mask awareness during the National Fire Safety awareness season. “Too many animals get injured and die every year due to preventable fire related emergencies. Incident mitigation combined with pet oxygen mask kits can help save countless pet lives” De Pablo argues.
About Wag’N Enterprises
Founded in 2007, Wag’N Enterprises (www.wagnpetsafety.com) offers pet emergency management solutions to service industries, first responders and pet parents to effectively mitigate, prepare for and respond to emergencies that impact pet health and safety. Executive Director of Pet Emergency Management Division Ines de Pablo holds a Masters Degree in Risk, Crisis & Emergency Management from the prestigious George Washington Universit y i n Was hi ngt on, D. C. , a nd
has more than a decade of extensive field training experience under her belt. Wag’N Pet Safety Gear is a branded and extensive collection of purposefully designed tools and services giving people and their pets peace of mind in case of an emergency.
###
A Virginia-based pet safety company is making it easier for first responders to keep pets safe during October.
Wag’N Enterprises’ O2 Fur Life® program provides first responders a channel to order life-saving pet oxygen kits. Throughout October, the company and kit-manufacturer McCulloch Medical are offering free shipping in observance of National Fire Safety Awareness Month.
“The goal of O2 Fur Life is to get all first responders in North America to carry pet oxygen mask kits to help distressed pets after an emergency,” Ines de Pablo, Wag’N’s executive director of Pet Emergency Management Division, said.
“McCulloch Medical generously offered to cover all shipping costs for first responder, direct and sponsor O2 Fur Life orders placed between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31. This is a great way to save pets and money.”
O2 Fur Life was created by de Pablo in 2008 when she realized that aftercare of pets rescued from emergencies, such as fires, was something that most first responders weren’t equipped to handle. Most humans require oxygen after an emergency, and pets are no different, de Pablo said.
Now, de Pablo’s work has placed 2,460 life-saving pet oxygen kits in more than 1,050 first responder departments in the United States and Canada.
Pet oxygen kits work similarly to those used on humans. The kits contain three different sizes of masks that can accommodate different size animals –everything from a ferret to a foal. A demonstration on how these masks are used may be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VtEPuHrGJ8.
De Pablo said Wag’N doesn’t turn a profit from providing the kits to first responders because they are sold at cost. However, consumers may also purchase the kits at a slight markup with the profits going right back into the program so that Wag’N can donate masks to other first responders.
Pet oxygen kits start at $70 for all first responders and sponsor orders and $90 for private consumers. More information is available on Wag’N’s website at www.wagnpetsafety.com/pet_oxygen_masks.html.
Since the fall of 2009, Wag’N has been working diligently with McCulloch Medical to raise pet safety awareness and pet oxygen mask awareness during the National Fire Safety awareness season. “Too many animals get injured and die every year due to preventable fire related emergencies. Incident mitigation combined with pet oxygen mask kits can help save countless pet lives” De Pablo argues.
About Wag’N Enterprises
Founded in 2007, Wag’N Enterprises (www.wagnpetsafety.com) offers pet emergency management solutions to service industries, first responders and pet parents to effectively mitigate, prepare for and respond to emergencies that impact pet health and safety. Executive Director of Pet Emergency Management Division Ines de Pablo holds a Masters Degree in Risk, Crisis & Emergency Management from the prestigious George Washington Universit y i n Was hi ngt on, D. C. , a nd
has more than a decade of extensive field training experience under her belt. Wag’N Pet Safety Gear is a branded and extensive collection of purposefully designed tools and services giving people and their pets peace of mind in case of an emergency.
###
Thursday, September 15, 2011
PRESS RELEASE: Wag’N Enterprises’ New P.E.T.S. Program Ensures Fido’s Safety while Away from Home
P.E.T.S. helps boarding facilities, pet hotels prepare for emergencies
Many pet parents assume their four-legged friends are safe while boarding them, but
one Virginia-based company isn’t letting this important aspect go to the dogs.
Wag’N Enterprises has introduced the Personalized Emergency Training Services (P.E.T.S.) Program to help pet boarding facilities, hotels and daycares better prepare for possible emergencies and bolster pets’ safety while away from home. P.E.T.S. is a first-of-its-kind program in the United States and is customizable for each business, depending on their needs.
“Generally, facilities such as hospitals, schools and government buildings are the only places that would make similar safety preparations,” Ines de Pablo, executive director of Pet Emergency Management Division at Wag’N Enterprises, said. “Since most pet parents consider their dog or cat their child, it’s equally important for businesses to prepare with P.E.T.S.”
De Pablo said many facilities don’t prepare for emergencies simply because they don’t know where to start. This is where P.E.T.S. can help. The program prepares and enables facilities to answer questions such as:
* What is our plan in case of a fire?
* How will we effectively protect life (human & pets), property and data during/after an emergency?
* How will we communicate about an emergency to staff, first responders and customers?
* How and where will we transport the evacuated animals?
* What steps are needed to recover or move our business after an emergency?
So, how exactly does P.E.T.S. work? De Pablo said the program takes a comprehensive look at a boarding or daycare facility and identifies existing vulnerabilities and risks that need to be addressed. In addition to addressing current vulnerabilities, P.E.T.S. helps facilities prepare for next steps after an unexpected emergency – everything from communicating the emergency to pet parents to getting the facility up and running afterward. This is accomplished through training and instruction in:
Incident command direction and control
Crisis communications
Emergency animal transportation and sheltering planning
Basic pet emergency management exercises
Fire extinguisher use
Shelter-in-place planning
Pet first aid, CPR & triage certification training
Business continuity
Disaster recovery planning
Optional advanced courses and continued education/assessment
De Pablo said P.E.T.S. “meets or exceeds” all the guidelines set forth by the National Fire Protection Agency NFPA 150 and is customized to meet and remain in compliance with evolving Animal Protection and Emergency Sheltering plans issued by county and state Emergency Operation Plans (EOPs).
About Wag’N Enterprises
Founded in 2007, Wag’N Enterprises (www.wagnpetsafety.com) offers pet emergency management solutions to service industries, first responders and pet parents to effectively mitigate, prepare for and respond to emergencies that impact pet health and safety. Executive Director of Pet Emergency Management Division Ines de Pablo holds a Master’s Degree in Risk, Crisis & Emergency Management from the prestigious George Washington Universit y i n Was hi ngt on, D. C. , a nd
has more than a decade of extensive field training experience under her belt. Wag’N Pet Safety Gear is a branded and extensive collection of purposefully designed tools and services giving people and their pets peace of mind in case of an emergency.
###
Many pet parents assume their four-legged friends are safe while boarding them, but
one Virginia-based company isn’t letting this important aspect go to the dogs.
Wag’N Enterprises has introduced the Personalized Emergency Training Services (P.E.T.S.) Program to help pet boarding facilities, hotels and daycares better prepare for possible emergencies and bolster pets’ safety while away from home. P.E.T.S. is a first-of-its-kind program in the United States and is customizable for each business, depending on their needs.
“Generally, facilities such as hospitals, schools and government buildings are the only places that would make similar safety preparations,” Ines de Pablo, executive director of Pet Emergency Management Division at Wag’N Enterprises, said. “Since most pet parents consider their dog or cat their child, it’s equally important for businesses to prepare with P.E.T.S.”
De Pablo said many facilities don’t prepare for emergencies simply because they don’t know where to start. This is where P.E.T.S. can help. The program prepares and enables facilities to answer questions such as:
* What is our plan in case of a fire?
* How will we effectively protect life (human & pets), property and data during/after an emergency?
* How will we communicate about an emergency to staff, first responders and customers?
* How and where will we transport the evacuated animals?
* What steps are needed to recover or move our business after an emergency?
So, how exactly does P.E.T.S. work? De Pablo said the program takes a comprehensive look at a boarding or daycare facility and identifies existing vulnerabilities and risks that need to be addressed. In addition to addressing current vulnerabilities, P.E.T.S. helps facilities prepare for next steps after an unexpected emergency – everything from communicating the emergency to pet parents to getting the facility up and running afterward. This is accomplished through training and instruction in:
Incident command direction and control
Crisis communications
Emergency animal transportation and sheltering planning
Basic pet emergency management exercises
Fire extinguisher use
Shelter-in-place planning
Pet first aid, CPR & triage certification training
Business continuity
Disaster recovery planning
Optional advanced courses and continued education/assessment
De Pablo said P.E.T.S. “meets or exceeds” all the guidelines set forth by the National Fire Protection Agency NFPA 150 and is customized to meet and remain in compliance with evolving Animal Protection and Emergency Sheltering plans issued by county and state Emergency Operation Plans (EOPs).
About Wag’N Enterprises
Founded in 2007, Wag’N Enterprises (www.wagnpetsafety.com) offers pet emergency management solutions to service industries, first responders and pet parents to effectively mitigate, prepare for and respond to emergencies that impact pet health and safety. Executive Director of Pet Emergency Management Division Ines de Pablo holds a Master’s Degree in Risk, Crisis & Emergency Management from the prestigious George Washington Universit y i n Was hi ngt on, D. C. , a nd
has more than a decade of extensive field training experience under her belt. Wag’N Pet Safety Gear is a branded and extensive collection of purposefully designed tools and services giving people and their pets peace of mind in case of an emergency.
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Friday, August 26, 2011
FEMA UPDATE
As Hurricane Irene threatens the East Coast, we’re excited to announce FEMA’s gone mobile (again). We wanted to share two new ways you can get information about how to prepare for and recover from hurricanes and other disasters on your mobile devices:
FEMA App
In the new FEMA App, you’ll be able to:
FEMA App
In the new FEMA App, you’ll be able to:
- Check off the items you have in your family’s emergency kit,
- Enter your family emergency meeting locations,
- Review safety tips on what to do before, during and after a disaster,
- View a map of shelters and disaster recovery centers across the U.S., and
- Read our latest blog posts.
When we built the app, we kept the disaster survivor in mind, making sure much of the information would be available even if cell phone service isn’t, so you’ll be able to access the important information on how to safe after a disaster, as well as your family emergency meeting locations.
So as Administrator Fugate said, you can download our app today in the Android market, and look for FEMA App for Blackberry version 6 devices and iPhones in the coming weeks.
FEMA Text Messages
A new and separate service from the new app, our text message updates will allow cell phone users to receive text message updates from FEMA.
So as Administrator Fugate said, you can download our app today in the Android market, and look for FEMA App for Blackberry version 6 devices and iPhones in the coming weeks.
FEMA Text Messages
A new and separate service from the new app, our text message updates will allow cell phone users to receive text message updates from FEMA.
- Text PREPARE to 43362 (4FEMA) to sign up to receive monthly disaster safety tips
- Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345)
(For availability of shelters and services, contact your local emergency management agency.) - Text DRC + your ZIP code to 44362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest disaster recovery center in your area (for example, if you lived in Annandale, Virginia with a Zip Code of 22003, you’d text DRC 22003).
We’re excited to provide these two new ways you can access information on your mobile device, in addition to our already existing mobile site – m.fema.gov. Stay tuned to our blog, Facebook and Twitter channels as we roll out our app to the remaining smartphone operating systems and make enhancements to our text messages program.
So download the app or text PREPARE to 44362, and then leave us a comment and let us know what you think. We encourage you to tell a family member, friend, or neighbor as well, so they can have disaster safety information always at their fingertips.
FEMA app frequently asked questions
Q: Will I get emergency alerts and warnings through the FEMA App?
A: No. The FEMA App provides preparedness and disaster recovery information only. If you are in an emergency situation and need to reach a first responder, you should always dial 911. And remember to listen to your state and local officials for instructions and updates about emergencies where you live.
Q: Can I discontinue using the App at anytime?
A: Yes. To discontinue using the FEMA App, simply delete the icon on your smartphone or remove it just like you remove any other App on your smartphone.
Q: What are the future enhancements?
A: If you have suggestions/ideas for future enhancements, please send them to: FEMA-new-media@dhs.gov. FEMA will continue to develop enhancements and add them to updated versions of the App, and we welcome your input.
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FEMA text messages frequently asked questions
Q: Can I discontinue using this service at anytime?
A: Yes. To stop receiving Text Messages from FEMA, simply text: STOP to 43362 (4FEMA).
Q: How often will I receive these messages?
A: If you sign up for the monthly preparedness message, then obviously once a month. When we create additional keywords to sign up for more information, we will let you know how often we think we will send updates. At any time, you can unsubscribe from updates by texting: Stop to 43362 (4FEMA).
Q: What are the future enhancements?
A: If you have suggestions/ideas for other information you would like to receive via text message, please send them to: FEMA-new-media@dhs.gov
Q: Will I get emergency alerts and warnings through the FEMA Text Messaging?
A: No. FEMA Text Messages are not for emergency alerts or notifications. If you are in an emergency situation and need to reach a first responder, you should always dial 911. And remember to listen to your state and local officials for instructions and updates about emergencies where you live.
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