Red Cross Offers First Aid Classes for Pet Owners

The Red Cross is offering classes on how to administer CPR and first aid to pets to help animal lovers deal with emergencies such as the one that Santa Clarita grandmother Stella Cole faced last month.

Red Cross spokesman Mike Powers said Cole saved the life of the family cat, Autumn, after the animal tried to jump over a wall and wound up choking on its snared leash.

Cole laid the cat on its back and, although her last Red Cross cardiopulmonary resuscitation class was 35 years ago, managed to breathe life back into the tiny beast.

About 18 months ago, Powers said, a Red Cross instructor designed a course specifically for pets.

“The class is meant to bridge the gap, to teach people to provide emergency care until they can get the animal to the vet,” Powers said.

The four-hour class, which costs $30, will be offered five times in February at various Red Cross service centers:

* Feb. 3 at the Santa Clarita center, 23152 1/2 Valencia Blvd., Valencia.

* Feb. 9 at the Burbank center, 1001 W. Magnolia Blvd.

* Feb. 17 at the San Fernando Valley center, 14717 Sherman Way, Van Nuys.

* Feb. 18 at the Los Angeles chapter headquarters, 2700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.

* Feb. 24 at the Inglewood center, 610 N. Eucalyptus Ave.

All classes will be held from 6 to 10 p.m.

For information, call the Red Cross at (800) 627-7000.