Keep Your Pets Fire Safe Week
May 5 - May 11
The City of Sedona has proclaimed the week of May 5, 2025, to be Keep Your Pets Fire Safe Week. This week is sponsored by the Sedona Fire District (SFD) in partnership with the Humane Society of Sedona (Humane Society), the Sedona Community Center (SCC) and the Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition (VVCC),
During this week, SFD will be doing a number of activities including offering free pet fire safety information and pet alert stickers at all fire stations, hosting a “pet locator alert walk” at Sunset Village and giving residents the opportunity to enter their pet information into SFD’s website at www.sedonafire.org/pets.
At the same time, SFD’s partners will be doing a number of activities to support greater pet safety and awareness.
“Past research showed that pet ownership can increase positive hormones and decrease blood pressure.” Says Humane Society of Sedona Director of Philanthropy, Brenda Redel. “Recent research in Social Indicators Research indicates pet companionship, as measured in life satisfaction, puts dogs and cats at a valued emotional place that mirrors marriage and close friendship. All the more reason to ensure their safety in emergency situations.” The Humane Society will provide visitors with free pet fire safety information and pet alert stickers and will give free Rescue Retriever© devices to all who adopt a pet during this Week.
The Rescue Retriever© is a first of its kind dog paw shaped smoke detector, designed to aid firefighters and first responders in locating and rescuing pets in a smoke or fire emergency. When smoke is detected, Rescue Retriever© will emit a bright strobing light for firefighters to navigate in a “search here first” approach through thick smoke. Easy to install, this small device can make the biggest difference in a pet’s survival during an emergency situation.
At the same time, through the Meals on Wheels program of the SCC and the pet program of VVCC, volunteers will share pet fire safety information and install pet alert stickers and free Rescue Retriever© pet-location alert devices in the homes of client residents with pets.
Throughout the Week and thereafter, Rescue Retriever© devices will be for sale to interested residents at SFD Station 1 on Southwest Drive. They can also be purchased at www.rescueretriever.com or on Amazon.
Media – for more information, contact Helen McNeal of Sedona Fire District at 301-529-5268, Brenda Redel of the Humane Society of Sedona at 928-399-7417, Linda Clark of Verde Valley Caregivers at 928-204-1238 or Sondra Springett of the Sedona Community Center at 619-972-3670.
