July 15. And it’s National Pet Fire Safety Day. This is a serious subject – because according to the American Red Cross and the US Fire Administration, “an estimated 500,000 pets annually” are affected by fires – in the US alone. There are two excellent recommendations to keep your canine safe in the event of a fire: have a plan for an escape route – and place a sign or fire safety sticker in a front window indicating the number of pets inside – so that firefighters know who to look for.
Of course you also want to employ other safety features – like smoke alarms. You need to be careful when using candles if you have pets as an accidental collision with a burning candle could have a very bad outcome.
The Halifax Kennel Club – to which her highness belongs , once had a project to supply pet oxygen masks to local fire departments. Human masks do not work well with pets – masks designed for “pet heads” are much more beneficial for both dogs and cats.
If you are a member of a kennel club, or dog group, starting a project to equip fire trucks is a super useful idea.
And speaking of safety and candles, her highness did day two of her art class. She did something called encaustic art. It’s a centuries old technique involving “painting” with hot, colored bees wax. The wax is heated and is in liquid form, and when it is brushed on a piece of wood, it immediately hardends. You can then build up the wax and add things to your art to give it “texture” and dimension- like photos, pieces of string, buttons, leaves, coins, etc.
Well. I have to be honest. We are not going to be making any extra money in this household from her highness’s art. She did 5 pieces over the weekend. Look – I love her – but they are no Rembrandts. I could have probably chewed a couple of candles and done an equally interesting job. But we tried to look enthused when she came home. I was hoping she would have done one of us- but now I’m glad she didn’t. We would likely be unrecognizable. Too bad she didn’t embed dog biscuits in the wax. We could have helped recycle them.
I suppose this art stuff is part of retirement. Humans try new things. I guess it could have been worse- we could have been booked for an obedience class….
Anyway, have a good, safe wax-free day.
Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 37
Viktorsviews. The Next Chapter. 