Free pet first aid classes offered
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A 9-month-old boxer poked its head into a potato chip bag, attracted, no doubt, by the salty smell of snack crumbs. The puppy suffocated and died.
When a 2-year-old cocker spaniel tried to squeeze under a fence, the collar caught on the fence, choking and killing the beloved pet.
Those deaths may not have been preventable, but some pets can survive accidents and health emergencies if their owners know first aid.
Free classes in first aid for pets are being offered by an animal-loving Bridgeville business owner who hopes this will result in a decrease in untimely deaths.
Deb Chebatoris who owns Chartiers Custom Pet Cremation, 442 Washington Ave., recently has worked with the families whose pets died young in tragic accidents, including the boxer and the cocker spaniel.
The grieving owners wondered if there was anything that could be done to prevent future tragedies.
Then Karen Sable, a Munhall resident, went to Ms. Chebatoris to make arrangements after the death of her cat, Snowball, 19. She mentioned that she is certified in pet first aid and recently started her own business, Pet Emergency Training LLC.
Ms. Chebatoris decided to pay for the training services of Ms. Sable. The free classes are open to the public. You don't have to be a customer of either business.
Classes have been scheduled in public libraries in Bridgeville, Robinson, Carnegie and Bethel Park.
The first class will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the newly constructed Bridgeville Public Library during the facility's grand opening weekend June 11.
The other classes will be 90-minute mini-courses:
• 11 a.m. July 16 in the Robinson Township Public Library.
• 6 p.m. Aug. 8 in the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie.
• 7 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Bethel Park Public Library.
The first class in Bridgeville will include injury assessment, rescue breathing and canine and feline CPR.
Participants will learn how to handle bleeding, choking, bites, insect stings, poisoning and fractures. Stuffed animals are used for demonstrations and hands-on experience.
The 90-minute classes will touch on some of the more common situations, including CPR for an animal that is not breathing, first aid for a pet suffering from heat stress or heat stroke and how to save an animal that is choking.
Disaster preparedness also will be discussed.
Ms. Sable had worked as human resources director for Mayview State Hospital in Bridgeville for more than 25 years. While working there she became involved in animal rescue and disaster response work and obtained a veterinary assistant diploma.
She took an early retirement when Mayview closed and "decided to use that opportunity to become more involved in animal care," Ms. Sable said. In March she completed the instructor training program with Pet Tech, Inc., with teaches CPR and first aid for pets.
Preregistration for the free classes is required because space is limited.
Call 412-220-7800.
First Published June 2, 2011 5:09 am
