you can learn to do Pet First Aid! It was my yellow- Labrador Retriever Sunny who got me started. Nineteen years ago she suffered a back injury and I was determined to never be caught unprepared when my furry child needed me. We got her the help she needed and Sunny bounced back after surgery to enjoy more adventures, but I started training, and practicing and training some more until I developed all the programs I teach: Pet First-Aid & CPCR, Pet Disaster Preparedness, Caring for Senior Pets and a 20-week Animal Care Class for high school juniors and seniors. LICK: Awesome. Have you or any of your students ever saved a life? DENISE FLECK: You betcha! I’ve had to perform CPR on 3 occasions but between my 11 dogs and a cat and all my volunteer rescue work and as a member of an animal response team, I have had to jump to the task on numerous occasions to bandage a paw, aid an upset tummy, alleviate choking and so much more. I have had a good number of students over the years who have also done the same. The doggie Heimlich-like Maneuver comes in at the most-used skill I teach (BTW, did you hear that Dr. Henry Heimlich actually just used his own invention for the first time recently in an assisted living home? Way cool. I always refer to what I teach as “Heimlich-like” as I don’t know if he ever saw the use in animals, but it works!). I have also had students perform CPR successfully, lots of bandaging, treat for heat stroke, seizures, bee stings and snake bites to name a few. The biggest thing most feel they acquire in class though is the confidence to react because if you don’t step up and help…knowing the skill means nothing. LICK: Yeah, I guess some people might be concerned they’d panic if it was there pet in trouble? DENISE FLECK: It’s been my experience that people who take the time to learn and keep up on their skills are able to help. After the pet is at the vet, they may have a little melt-down cause they care so passionately, but most who have gone through training hold it together and come to the rescue! LICK: What should our readers do even before they take Pet First Aid?
DENISE FLECK: Number 1, know where their nearest Animal ER is located, what services they offer and how they accept payment. Secondly, do a weekly Head-to- Tail Check-up of their pet (maybe I’ll give you more info about this in a future issues) feeling for lumps and bumps and getting acquainted with their dog or cat’s body and habits. Finding something early and getting it checked- out can be a life-saver. And 3…Spend quality time with your pet every day. Put away the cell phone when taking Fido for a walk. Drop you purse or briefcase and give Fluffy an awesome ear scratch. Be in the moment, like your pet’s and appreciate your time together. LICK: Meaning advice for sure! Besides your Southern U.S. Tour, what else do you have coming up? DENISE FLECK: My “Pet Safety Bible,” 300 pages of everything I feel pet parents should know about a dog or cat’s health care and safety will be out late this summer complementing my recently released, “The Autumn & Winter of Your Pet: Make Those Senior Years Golden.” I have a soft spot for our older and misjudged animal friends and have a children’s book series about them entitled, “Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover.” But…I would love it if everyone would start tuning in to my weekly Pet Safety Crusader Radio Show. It’s on live Thursdays at 1:00pm Pacific at www.BBSRadio.com but is then syndicated to 60+ affiliates via WPET All Paws Pet Talk Radio and streams live 24/7 on iTunes and TuneIn. And…the Pet Safety Crusader will have a coloring book before the year is done! LICK: Thanks so much for taking a time out and showing us a little about how you try to be the one who makes a difference in the life of an animal. Something we all hope we can do as well. And folks, visit Denise at http:\\www.SunnyDogInk.com .
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