On October 6,
Perinton Veterinary Hospital in Victor, NY, a member of Thrive Pet Healthcare's community of hospitals, took a compassionate and vital step toward ensuring the safety of pets in their community by hosting a pet CPR, first aid, and animal handling training for local first responders. Sixteen dedicated first responders from nine different agencies participated in this hands-on class, which covered critical scenarios they may face when an animal is involved in an emergency.
Every day, first responders courageously confront life-threatening situations, and this training ensures that they are just as prepared to help our pets as they are to help people. Whether administering pet CPR, handling injured animals safely, or providing immediate first aid, this course empowers them to act quickly and effectively when pets are in danger.
In addition to valuable skills, all participants went home with
PawPrint Pet Oxygen Masks—generously donated by our sponsors (Hill's Pet Food, Purina Pet Food, Zoetis, Elanco and MWI) —to equip their rigs for emergencies. They also received pocket-size reference materials and slip leads to enhance their preparedness. All proceeds from the training benefited
Rochester Hope for Pets, a local non-profit that supports pet owners with urgent and emergency veterinary care.
Kathy Smith, a Licensed Veterinary Technician and Perinton Veterinary Hospital's Practice Manager, led the training alongside her skilled team.
Participating New York First Responder Agencies:
Hamlin/Morton/Walker Fire Department
Fairport First Department
Brighton Animal Control
Gates Fire Department
Churchville Fire Department
Spencerport Fire Department
Brockport Fire Department
Scottsville Fire Department
Stafford Fire Department
Perinton Training Team:
Kathy Smith, Licensed Veterinary Technician and Practice Manager
Lyndsey Seufferr, Licensed Veterinary Technician Supervisor
Charmaine Heffner, Customer Service Representative Supervisor
