Spring 2009 - National Association of Professional Pet Sitters

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Pet Sitter Safety: Self Protection By: Marcia Breithaupt, NAPPS Disaster Preparedness Committee Chair Pet sitters need to be not only aware of their immediate surroundings but also know how to react should something go terribly wrong. We should all become aware of growing safety concerns in the pet sitting business. Do not be a victim while dog walking or when entering empty homes. There are several key points and solutions below. You can choose which you feel is most appropriate. Use Your Head There are a few simple things you just do not do. They sound obvious but we have all done them at some point. The outcome can be very bad should something go wrong and you are not prepared. • Try not to walk dogs after dark. Try to work out a compromise with owners to avoid these times, but if not possible use all precautions, and be prepared to react if jumped by someone. • Always carry a fanny pack with pepper spray. Have it dangling from the side of the bag at all times, not buried in the bottom. • Never enter a home that has no lights on inside. If you must enter the home, open the door with one hand, and in the other, hold a can of pepper spray. • Carry a flashlight, even in the daytime, since many homes may be dark inside. • Always carry a cell phone. Do not have it buried in your fanny pack but on some kind of holster or your belt to make a quick 911 call if needed. Create Awareness Entering an Empty Home • Always be aware of your surroundings. • Take a mental inventory of the items in and around home so when you come back you remember what you saw on your last visit. • Check door knobs and jams before inserting your key. If it is unlocked and you know you locked it before then you should quickly asses the situation. Did the family come home? Is someone else there the family forgot to tell you about? Is there someone there that should not be there? • Check windows for any outward signs of break-in. • Always have a cell phone and flashlight in hand and ready to use at moment’s notice. The NAPPS Network • 14
• Make sure someone knows where you are and your pet sitting schedule. • Always think rationally—if you are in fear call 911. Physical Self Defense Physical self defense classes are good and often taught by local police departments. If you are physically inclined, this is great and you should learn any martial arts or defense maneuvers possible. Physical self defense can start by "diplomatically" talking to the attacker. Unfortunately, we are often pushed into a strategic defense position with maybe 10 seconds to think. Worse yet is the total surprise situation where you must simply decide how to strike the attacker. Unless fully trained, this is a very difficult proposition. Below are several sites to read about such defense training options. • Good site on discussion of self defense: http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/ self-defensetraining.htm • Guidelines for choosing a self-defense course: http://www.magicstream.org/selfdef2.htm • Training on DVD's: http://www.targetfocustraining.com/ and http://www.tactselfdefense.com/ • Good overall site on personal safety: http://www.ou.edu/oupd/welcome.htm Stun Guns And Pepper Spray Pepper spray and stun guns are very appealing on first thought. They are simple, should be effective, and are easy to carry. Limited training is needed so these should be a natural solution to people working in uncomfortable surroundings. But do they really make sense if you are face to face with an aggressive attacker? Is a handgun a better, or worse, option? Stun guns seem attractive but they are useless until the attacker is within arms length. You must touch the person with the machine for it to work unless you have a TASER device that flings the electrical prongs into the person. But what if they have a heavy coat on—will it work? What if the batteries are dead? What if you miss with your one shot? Do you really want that person to come within arms length of you to use the stun gun? Pepper spray also sounds appealing but a drugged up mugger often is unaffected by this spray—they just keep coming. Pepper spray on a group just antagonizes them—one person gets the spray while the others circle around you. Firearms Safety and Training For many people, firearms are viewed as a reasonable last defense but personal firearms remain a sensitive subject since it may be a moral issue. Some may think the threat to kill or maim the other person is too great, thus falling back to stun guns and mace. Over 300 people have died from TASER and stun gun use in just the last eight years and many have been blinded by pepper spray. These are not the zero harm solutions many people think. It is interesting to note that many police officers support educated personal firearm usage. The simple sight and sound of a firearm with proper handling tactics are often the best deterrent of all and no one gets hurt with many citing a 99% prevention rate without any other defensive action. In a dark environment, the sound of racking in a bullet is remarkably effective, and an integrated laser sight lighting a red dot on the attacker further increases prevention rates without firing a round. Even the most aggressive persons understand you are serious and you will not be a victim. Firearms are still our best defense but you must commit to proper training and use. Although firearms can be the ultimate deterrent in a life or death situation, things can also turn very bad for yourself should you not have proper training on when not to use or brandish a weapon. Do not be afraid of simply stopping by your local gun shop and discussing firearms for protection. Most shop owners are very knowledgeable on pointing you to proper training and hardware and they are sensitive to properly outfitting the customer. Firearm laws vary state by state and you must be very aware of these. Not only is the ownership regulated but the class of gun, accessories, and right to carry can vary considerably. For more information go to http://www.handgunlaw.us/. Finally, no matter your personal views on firearms, a ride and drive with your local police department is highly recommended. They will gladly expose you to the real life in your city or county, sometimes showing things you never thought were going on in your area and how to respond to them. Most importantly, use your head, and think ahead, at all times. ■ Legislative Update Bill to Ban Wild Animals as Pets Due to the recent chimpanzee attack in Connecticut many feel the need to prohibit possession of wild animals such as primates. U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer introduced H.R. 80, the Captive Primate Safety Act, which would ban the interstate commerce in apes, monkeys, lemurs, marmosets, and other primates for the pet trade. It would complement state laws on the possession of dangerous exotic animals, since many of these animals are purchased over the Internet and through other interstate instruments. Blumenauer’s bill passed the U.S. House overwhelmingly by a vote of 323-95, and is now pending in the U.S. Senate. “The owners of these animals are playing roulette with people's lives,” says Nicole G. Paquette, senior vice president and general counsel for Born Free USA. “For the safety of people and animals, the legislature must act now to prohibit dangerous wild and exotic animals from being kept in private hands.” For more information on this topic go to: http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/pr ess_releases/senate_introduces_captive_primate_safety_act_022509.html. The NAPPS Network • 15
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents ASSOCIATION NEWS
Page 5 and 6: Membership Every NAPPS member in go
Page 7 and 8: Get to Know Your Board John F. D’
Page 9 and 10: Some state statutes address the IC
Page 11 and 12: Monica Leighton, 2009 NAPPS Preside
Page 13 and 14: The NAPPS Network • 11
Page 15: An Open Love Letter Some say it's t
Page 19 and 20: Participation in, and education rec
Page 21 and 22: New NAPPS Members NAPPS Would Like
Page 23: NAPPS COMMITTEES As a member of NAP

Spring 2009 - National Association of Professional Pet Sitters

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?