Last year, 10-year-old Roman Moreno saved his 87-pound German shepherd from drowning in a neighbor’s swimming pool.
“I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, my dog is in the pool,” said Roman, who managed to pull his dog to safety.
He was one of about 10 local pet owners who learned life-saving techniques for their furry friends Saturday at a pet first-aid and CPR class at the Burbank Animal Shelter.
“It’s estimated that nine out of 10 dogs and cats will have an emergency at some point in their life,” instructor Denise Fleck told the class, citing Roman’s dog as one example.
During the five-hour class, Fleck taught students how to help their pets in case of medical emergencies, including the Heimlich maneuver, rescue breathing and CPR. Students practiced on realistic stuffed dogs.
Fleck became passionate about animal safety in 1997, when her dog Sunny suffered a back injury.
“It was a kind of a helpless feeling of not knowing what to do,” she said.
She has since trained with seven national organizations to learn life-saving skills and has taught the techniques to fellow pet owners for about 10 years through her company, Sunny-dog Inc. She has written pet safety textbooks and often appears on local television to promote animal safety.
When she teaches animal CPR techniques, which differ from human CPR, Fleck said she has received a range of responses.
“I get the strangest looks,” she said. “People say, “What? I put my mouth on that dog’s snout?’”
But Fleck insists the technique “really isn’t that gross,” and few diseases transfer from dogs and cats to their owners.
Burbank resident Jennifer Nelson enrolled in the class to learn how to help the many animals in her life. A dog owner herself, Nelson also frequently volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter.
“I came so I would be able to know a little bit more about how I can help,” she said. “I think it’s something good to know.”
Fleck also urged the class to include their pets in emergency plans in case of earthquakes, fires and other natural disasters. Pet owners should have copies of their animal’s medical records, several weeks’ supply of food and water, and any pet medications ready to go, she said.
“You never know when something will happen,” she said. “I try to encourage people to do it at a grass-roots level, so to speak, so they are prepared at their homes as well.”
