INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Fifteen children listened and learned first aid and CPR to help their pets during a Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County class. Also among the audience were volunteers Michelle Smith with Buddy, a Bichon, and Stripe a Shih Tzu, with Carol Mershon and Pierre, a poodle. A larger dog, Baron Zaleuke, a behavior specialist, also visited the class.
“The most important thing is prevention,” said Janet Winikoff, director of education.
Kids who took the class learned what to do if their pet needs help, how to find help, and what supplies to keep on hand.
“Stop, look, listen,” is how Ilka Daniel, director of animal protective services, started.
She pointed out that unless a pet owner takes stock of the emergency first, they might end up in trouble like the pet they’re trying to rescue.
After assessing the pet’s injuries, procedures of muzzling and transporting their animals were taught.
Some scenarios talked about were drowning and snake bites.
“Pet drowning is real,” pointed out Daniel. One child experienced the loss of a pet that drowned in a pool.
Heat stroke because of animals left in cars, even on a cooler day, was also touched on.
Because of instances like this, they learned CPR on two CPR dogs, Jerry and Casper, and a CPR cat.
First they went over the ABCs, which are how to check the airway, for breathing, and circulation.
For small dogs, like Pierre, Buddy, and Stripe, and cats compressions during CPR have to be at a faster rate because their hearts beat faster than large dogs, like Baron.
To get an understanding of this kids listened to the different animals heartbeats with stethoscopes.
They were also taught to use protection, a t-shirt, handkerchief, tissue or paper towel when performing mouth-to-mouth.
Cats and dogs were not the only pets on the class’s minds.
“How do you give mouth-to-mouth to a fish?” asked Emily Tahmassebi, 11.
After learning how to give dogs and cats mouth-to-mouth and CPR, small groups of kids were taken to another room where they used their knowledge.
One a worksheet they had stations where they identified hazards to pets like medications, chocolate and even a snake – though the snake was rubber.