Lick Magazine caught up with the Pet Safety Crusader herself… LICK: So tell us, what’s up with the mask, cape and super hero persona? DENISE FLECK: For 16 years, my Sunny-dog Ink motto has been “Helping People Help Their Pets,” and I honestly feel I have succeeded having taught 10,000 humans animal life-saving skills (and millions more on national television segments), but…I realized that there are so many more dogs and cats across the country that could benefit from their humans knowing better pet parenting. That’s why I decided to make it more interesting to those who might otherwise not want to take a Pet First-Aid Class, which you have to admit but it’s nature, doesn’t sound like a fun time. Super heroes are cool again (if they ever even did go out of style), and I want to help more people “Be the one who makes a difference” in the life of an animal. LICK: Sounds PAWSome, but how do you plan to accomplish this? DENISE FLECK: For starters, my Southern U.S. Pet Safety Tour which kicks off September 15 th from PSI’s Pet Sitter World Educational Conference in San Diego, CA. From their I’ll emBARK (pun definitely intended) on a 10,000-mile journey across the Southern United States in an RV along with my canine pack! I have my “elves” creating unique events in 17 cities where I’ll be able to provide skills in one concerted effort to large numbers of animal lovers. For instance, at animal shelters I’ll be teaching Pet First Aid & CPCR (Cardio Pulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation) classes. At Fire Stations, I’ll train first responders and community members at large how to get Pet Disaster PAWpared! Some events will be in class rooms, others… family picnics in the park with Fido on the other end of the leash. Each event will be a fund raiser for a local animal welfare organization so besides helping people to help their pets, we’ll be giving back to the local animal community. LICK: Wow! That’s a lot of ground to cover but it sounds like it will be a great way to not only provide skills but to create awareness about how important it is to be prepared for our pets.
DENISE FLECK: I couldn’t have said it better! Cliché as it is, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” and the recent flooding across the South once again has demonstrated that any one of us can be caught off guard, but emergencies don’t have to be regional. A fire can break out in a home or a water pipe could break causing us to need to leave quickly WITH our pets. Do you have everything in one place that you would need to evacuate and do you know how to use all the items in your pet first aid kit? What, NO Pet First-Aid Kit? LICK: You caught me! I guess even when we think we are awesome pet parents, there is always more to learn. Why would you need a pet first aid kit however, when there’s a veterinarian usually within 10 minutes of most pet owners? DENISE FLECK: Ahhhhh, my whole purpose in life… Teaching people what to do and what items to have on hand so that they can rescue Rover or help Fluffy feel better BEFORE they get to veterinary help! Most of us aren’t lucky enough to have a veterinarian velcroed to our hip 24/17 and 9 out of 10 dogs and cats will have an emergency at some point in their lifetime. When you do at the moment injury or illness happens may be truly life- saving! If you can lower your pet’s body temperature, you can prevent brain and gastrointestinal damage. If you can minimize blood loss, you can save a life. If you can alleviate choking, you can prevent your pet from going unconscious. If you can induce vomiting, you can expel toxins, and…in worst case scenario, if you can perform CPCR, you can be the pump your pet’s heart cannot be, and keep that life-giving blood and oxygen flowing until you can get to medical care. By not knowing how to do these things, your pet may be in pain, grave distress or expire even en route to your vet. LICK: So getting in the car and just going isn’t always the best move? DENISE FLECK: First-aid is not a replacement for veterinary care, but 25% more pets are saved if their human performs one technique before or on-the-way to the clinic. LICK: Good to know! So where do you teach classes and how did you get going on all this? DENISE FLECK: My schedule is available on my website but coming very soon…my classes will be available online so that anywhere you can receive a signal,
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