National Pet Fire Safety Day: The Grab-and-Go Checklist Every Dog Parent Needs
National Pet Fire Safety Day falls on July 15 every year. It was created in 2009 by the American Kennel Club and ADT Security Services to get dog and cat parents thinking about two things: how to stop pets from accidentally starting fires, and how to get them out safely if one breaks out. It matters because roughly 500,000 pets are affected by house fires annually, and pets themselves accidentally start close to 1,000 home fires a year — usually by knocking over a candle or stepping on a stove knob.
The good news: most of this is preventable with just 15 minutes of prep. Here's exactly what to do.
When is National Pet Fire Safety Day, and why does it exist?
July 15, every year. The AKC and ADT Security Services started it in 2009 specifically to close a gap most family fire plans miss — the pet. Standard fire drills plan for where the humans go. This day is a reminder to plan for where the leash is.
How many pets are affected by house fires each year?
About 500,000, per data cited from the National Fire Protection Association. Separately, pets are the accidental cause of nearly 1,000 home fires a year — mostly by knocking over open flames or triggering stove tops. Both numbers point to the same fix: fire-proof what your pet can reach, and have a plan for what happens if a fire starts anyway.
How do I make a fire escape plan that includes my dog?
Four steps:
- Keep pets near an entry point when you're not home. A crate or gated room near a door beats free-roam of the house. It's the difference between firefighters finding your dog in seconds versus searching room to room.
- Run an actual drill. Walk your real exit route with your dog on leash at least once. Dogs freeze or hide under stress; a dog who's done the walk before is a dog who moves faster when it counts.
- Assign the pet job. If there's more than one person in the house, decide now who grabs the dog and who grabs the leash by the door and not in the moment. If you have multiple pets in the house, assign one accountable person to each pet.
- Put a pet alert cling in your front window. List how many pets are inside so firefighters know to look. Free ones are typically available through local firehouses and the AKC/ASPCA around July 15.
What should I keep by the door in case of a fire?
The single most repeated tip from firefighters and the AKC: leash, collar, and ID stay by the exit. ALWAYS, not just on July 15. If a fire starts, you don't want to be searching a closet for a leash while smoke fills the hallway, and if you're not home, rescuers grabbing a leash off the hook is often faster than trying to carry or coax a scared dog.
A few things make this faster:
- A collar with a quick-release buckle and a tag ring already loaded with ID. Pawmigo's Classic Collars are built with exactly this: a secure quick-release buckle and an extra mini tag ring made for ID tags. They are so easy to put on: grab-and-clip, no fumbling.
- A leash kit that lives on one hook, always — not "wherever it ended up." Pawmigo's Leash Kits come with a durable 5-foot leash and a poop bag holder that doubles as a small pouch — practical enough that it never has a reason to wander from the door.
- A harness that goes on in seconds, not a wrestling match. Pawmigo's Everyday Adjustable Harness is a slip-on design built to get a dog leashed and out the door fast, and the Reversible Harness also uses quick-release buckles with a 4-point lock that is secure so you don't have to worry under stress.
How do I stop my dog or cat from accidentally starting a fire?
- Blow out candles before you leave the house (or even the room with a pet unattended), or switch to flameless ones.
- Remove stove knobs or fit knob covers. The stovetop is the single most common way pets start fires.
- Hide or secure loose wires and cords, especially if you have a chewer or a climber.
- Swap glass water bowls left on wooden decks for metal or plastic. Glass left in direct sun can act like a magnifying lens.
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." — Benjamin Franklin