[quote=moneymaker]Here’s another thought. I have a home security system with monitored smoke detector and of course a panic button. Should i register (or is it even possible to) the door lock code with the fire department as they also do the ambulance calls if I were to push the medical or fire panic button. Mainly I’m thinking the scenario would be that we are out of town and a fire starts with the pets inside, every minute would be crucial. Kinda like the Farmers insurance commercial when the dog grabs the pizza off the stove and inadvertently turns on the stove top which then sets fire to the pizza box. Evidently a true story http://creativity-online.com/work/farmers-insurance-we-know-from-experience-agent-film/46977 except it was cake not pizza.[/quote]
MM, the fire department will get into your house if there’s an emergency; they won’t need a code. They might break a window or door, but if there’s an actual fire or other emergency, you won’t care. One of the best things you can do is let your neighbors know if you have a habit of leaving pets in the house when you’re gone because emergency responders will ask neighbors, who tend to come out to gawk when they see all the lights and hear all the noise, if they know whether or not there are people or pets in the house. You might also want to let some trusted neighbors know where you, your family, and your pets tend to sleep, etc. Sometimes, they can give emergency personnel important information about handicapped residents, elderly people, children, etc., and they can help firefighters/police know where to find them.
You can buy something like this for your pets, too, but since these things can easily become outdated or inaccurate, they aren’t as useful as giving information to your neighbors (pick trustworthy “Gladys Kravitz” types who are usually home and who are always paying attention to what’s going on in the neighborhood — but make sure they aren’t the gossipy types who will let others know when you’re out of town, because they might tell the wrong people):
Here’s Gladys Kravitz, in case you’re too young to remember this. 🙂
