Following an appointment at the pet groomers, Sue Carpenter expected to see her freshly trimmed, 5-pound poodle, Raven, playfully wagging her tail. But, within minutes of arriving to pick her up, the dog collapsed on the floor. Sue frantically jumped into her car with the lifeless pup and sped toward the animal hospital. An employee of the groomers attempted to revive Raven while en route by administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), an emergency technique used to manually restore blood circulation and oxygen to ultimately preserve brain function and reinstate life.

Carpenter recalls, “Raven was running across the room toward me so I would pick her up, when she just collapsed. I froze. I didn’t know what to do. The worker who did CPR, I know now, wasn’t doing it correctly.”

As a result of Raven’s death, Carpenter, who has two other poodles, took a PetTech CPR & First Aid Class this summer through Big Paw Pet Care, an Orlando-based pet sitting and training company. Held at the Orlando ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), Nick Vowden, a PetTech certified instructor, demonstrated proper techniques for canine and feline CPR, as well as first aid skills, including proper restraining methods, muzzling, vital sign identification, and understanding the signs and symptoms of shock.

“The class was very hands-on. I now absolutely feel that I would know what to do (next time),” proclaimed Carpenter. “Anybody who works with animals should be required to take this class. Anybody who owns a puppy should want to do this, as well.”

Vowden, an Orange County Fire Rescue firefighter, certified EMT/paramedic, and self-proclaimed pet lover, pursued his certification to administer CPR and first aid to pets and also teach the certification course to others after seeing animals die and/or get injured through his line of duty, such as auto accidents and house fires. “We have all kinds of training for humans, but I didn’t know the other (pet) existed,” said Vowden, whose family adopted a French Mastiff named Sookie. “Formerly, all I could do to help an animal was transfer my knowledge from humans to pets.” Eager to specialize his skills, Vowden took a three-day certification program through PetTech, a California-based company experienced in animal care. After earning the certification and launching the PetTech course locally in September 2012 with partners, like Big Paw Pet Care, Vowden says the response has been ‘tremendous.’ “There’s a huge demand ─ and not just from pet care professionals or those in the pet industry.”

Jan Young, pet parent to 14-month-old Labrador retriever, Miley, also took the course this past summer along with her daughter, Alicia, owner of Lizzie, a Labrador/beagle mix and certified therapy dog. Young, a registered nurse, explains that she wanted to take the course because of her volunteer work with New Horizons Service Dogs, an Orange City-based organization that pairs service dogs with disabled individuals and, of course, for Miley’s sake. “I decided that since I’m so involved with dogs, despite being a registered nurse, I thought I should know more about canines and cats,” she said, in regards to emergency response skills.

The specialized training served her well. Within days of participating in the PetTech class, Young found herself relying upon her newfound skills when a 6-day-old puppy that she was transporting in her vehicle began to experience health complications. “I used all the little nuances they taught me,” she said. “I was able to give the vet a very accurate assessment of what I thought was going on. I was prepared.”

Vowden offers two classes: an 8-hour Pet Saver class, which covers CPR, first aid, dental care, senior pet care, and nutrition; and a 4-hour CPR & first aid only class. Certification is valid for two years. “This instruction is ideal for pet industry personnel, pet owners, and even the general population,” states Vowden.

Mike Meibuhr, owner of Big Paw Pet Care, requires his pet sitters and employees to take the PetSaver classes. “From a business standpoint, it made sense because we wanted to offer pet CPR and first aid certified pet sitters. The class explores all sorts of emergencies and scenarios.” Mike says that his 12 pet sitters have, in fact, regularly used their first aid training in an array of situations, such as poisoning, bandages, and removal of ticks. However, “None of our pet sitters have had to use CPR and we hope they never do,” Meibuhr said.

Vowden says that it’s important for pet industry professionals to solicit training because “their clients trust them with their furry family members.” According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), 1-out-of-4 more pets would survive, if just one pet first aid technique was applied prior to emergency veterinary care. Vowden has established a partnership with the ASPCA to teach classes at their Orlando and Sanford locations, with part of the proceeds benefitting the animal rescue organization. “I always want to be a good pet parent. And this is a good way to give back,” he says. Vowden is now working with his senior staff at Orange County Fire Rescue to get additional firefighters certified in pet CPR and first aid. “For me, as a pet owner, the fire department’s responsibilities are to save lives and property. Dogs are considered property.”