Firefighter Ethics & Animals

House fires affect about 500,000 pets each year, according to the National Volunteer Fire Council. Although firefighters follow a code of ethics that requires them to save lives, this does not extend to animals. Firefighters can save animals if they have the proper training and special equipment designed to fit pets.

  1. Identification

    • Many firefighters and fire departments belong to the International Association of Firefighters. The IAFF code requires firefighters to save the life of a human first and then protect property. However, a firefighter need not rescue an animal if the situation poses a high risk to his own life, according to Gilbert, Arizona, Fire Captain Mike Connor.

    Danger

    • Rescuing pets from a fire usually requires a special oxygen mask for the animal. If a firefighter attempts to save an animal, he could endanger his own life to attempt to rescue an animal that has no hope of survival. Also, the firefighter might not know whether the animal has an infectious disease, such as rabies, that it can spread through a bite. A firefighter without animal training can startle an animal and cause it to bite and attack the rescuer.

    Training

    • Some fire departments require their personnel to obtain training in animal resuscitation and have oxygen masks tailored for the heads of the most common pets, such as cats and dogs. Departments that offer training and own animal rescue equipment often ask their firefighters to make a reasonable effort to save animals. However, humans remain a priority in any situation, and a firefighter determines on his own whether he can make a reasonable attempt to rescue an animal.

    Tips

    • Citizens can do their part to help rescue animals by tagging their pets with microchips and grabbing muzzles before escaping the house or keeping restraint equipment at the entrance to the property. Homeowners should display a pet emergency decal ̵2; available at pet stores ̵2; on a clearly visible window. Some pet rescue organizations are set up to allow contributors to take tax deductions for purchasing animal rescue equipment by donating a kit in honor of a fallen pet to a fire department.