ALL ABOUT TRI-LAKES: Pet rescues serious work, funny stories

— As you will read elsewhere on this page, the Benton Fire Department had three training sessions this week to show new lifesaving equipment to first responders.

This equipment is to help the city’s firefighters save pets who might be caught in house fires. The new items, which help provide oxygen or air to animals that have inhaled smoke or who have stopped breathing, are a gift to the city from Amelia Frazier, who has lived in Benton just four months.

She paid around $400 for the equipment, which can be used to save the lives of furry and feathered members of the family. Firefighters assured her that once all the people have been accounted for, they do take risks to search for and rescue animals at the scene of a fire whenever possible.

I was surprised to hear from the firefighters that animals are a factor in about 80 percent of the fires handled by the Benton Fire Department. I probably should not have been so surprised, given that almost everyone I know has dogs, cats, birds, reptiles or some other animal as part of the family.

Tragically, firefighters said, they are often too late. In the smoke and confusion of a fire, animals may stay in a burning home and hide under beds and behind furniture. One firefighter said he had a hard time keeping a large dog from going back into a burning house. He concluded that the animal was worried that strangers were entering his home, and he was driven to protect it.

Many of the heartwarming stories of pet rescues and encounters at fires are also funny. One firefighter said he found a kitten in a house on fire and picked it up. The frightened kitten would not hold still and climbed over the shoulder of the firefighter. The kitty found refuge under the firefighter’s turnout coat and clamped onto the back of his neck with all claws. The firefighter carried the cat out to safety, where it could be extracted by another firefighter at the scene.

During the class, the firefighters were warned that cats can be the most dangerous animal to rescue. They are skilled with tooth and claw and always carry an uncooperative attitude, even in the best of times. It was suggested that firefighters find some way to wrap or secure a cat to save not only the animal but themselves from harm.

Those who run into burning buildings and return to risk their lives to save an animal have my greatest respect and admiration.

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