MEBANE, N.C., Oct. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For centuries,
firehouse dogs have been loyal companions — assisting firefighters
in lifesaving rescues, providing camaraderie in firehouses and
bringing smiles to heroic first responders. In recognition of
National Fire Pup Day, Kidde today announced fire service dog
Birdie, of CAL FIRE, is the winner
of Kidde's inaugural Fire Service Dog of the Year contest. Kidde is
a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), a leading global
provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and
cold chain solutions.
Kidde launched the Fire Service Dog of the Year 2021 contest on
its social media channels to find and celebrate beloved firehouse
dogs. U.S. fire departments with working fire dogs were invited to
upload creative pictures of the pups as the first-round selection.
After identifying the finalists, Kidde opened the contest to the
public to determine the winner by popular social media
vote.
Birdie received the most votes and won 10 pet oxygen masks (a
$1,200 value) for her local fire
station, a feature on Kidde.com and Kidde's social media
channels, inclusion in Kidde's fire safety materials, a trophy and
unlimited barking – that is, bragging – rights.
"Congratulations to Birdie, and the members of CAL FIRE," said Sharon
Cooksey, Fire Safety Educator at Kidde. "At Kidde, it's our
mission to ensure pet owners are equipped with the right products,
resources, tools and confidence in case of an emergency."
Due to the overwhelming popularity and community support with
the contest, Kidde will also award two close runners-up, Kenna from
the Riverton Volunteer Fire Company in Barkhamsted, Connecticut and Merle Haggard from the Fort Valley Fire Department in Fort Valley, Virginia.
Kidde is fully devoted to the safety of all family members, both
two legs and four legs alike, launching the industry's
first-of-its-kind pet-focused campaigns, Pet Fire Safety Month and
Pet Carbon Monoxide Safety Day, as part of Carrier's Healthy Homes
Program. According to a survey commissioned by Kidde and conducted
online by The Harris Poll among 1,367 pet owners (i.e. own at least
one dog or cat), a vast majority of pet owners (91%) say they will
leave their pet home alone more often as COVID-19 restrictions are
lifted. As a committed advocate of pet fire safety, Kidde shares
the following advice to protect and prevent your pets from the
dangers of a home fire:
- Safety Window Clings: In an emergency, first
responders need to be able to quickly assess the number of pets in
a home. Consider attaching a non-adhesive decal to a window near
your front door to let rescuers know how many animals are
inside.
- Fire Escape Practice: Pets should always be
included in a family's evacuation plan. Stay aware of their typical
hiding spots or locations where they often nap in case you must
evacuate quickly. When you are not home, keep pets in areas near
entrances where firefighters can easily find them.
- Train Pets on How to Respond: Pets who are already prone
to anxiety when a smoke alarm sounds may become even more so when
their owners are not at home. Through its collaboration with
celebrity pet trainer Sara Carson,
Kidde shares some easy steps to train your pet to respond
positively to the sound of a smoke or carbon monoxide (CO)
alarm.
- Smoke Alarm Maintenance: Smoke alarms must
be replaced after 7-10 years. In addition to testing alarms once
each week, check the manufacturing date on your smoke alarms to
make sure they are under 10 years of age. If they are older than
that, it is time to replace them.
For more pet fire safety tips,
visit www.kidde.com/petsafety.
About Kidde
Kidde, a leading manufacturer of residential smoke alarms,
carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, and safety accessories,
has been keeping the world a safer place for over 100 years. Kidde
produced the first integrated smoke detection system a century ago
and continues its legacy today by delivering advanced fire-safety
technology. Kidde is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the
leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and
intelligent building and cold chain solutions. For more
information, visit kidde.com or follow @KiddeSafety,
and on Facebook and Instagram.
CONTACT:
Sharon
Cooksey
919-612-0583
sharon.cooksey@carrier.com
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SOURCE Kidde