Participants used stuffed dogs to practice first aid and CPR skills at Tetherow Homestead. Photo by Dennis Fehling
Participants gathered last Saturday morning in sunny Tetherow Crossing Park to learn the basics of dog CPR and First Aid. Instructor Dennis Fehling of Friends for Life Dog Training in Redmond also walked the group through the ins and outs of scene management – how to safeguard yourself and the injured animal when you are the first responder to an animal-involved accident.
Dennis Fehling of Friends for Life Dog Training explains how to approach an accident scene.
Topics covered included how to MacGyver a home-made muzzle from materials you might have on hand, such as shoelaces or a belt to ensure you can safely respond to an injured dog you don’t know without getting big, five different points where you can check a dog’s pulse, how to administer CPR to different-sized dogs, and how to respond to various choking scenarios. Not only did the participants agree the class left them better able to respond in an emergency, they also felt more confident that they wouldn’t be helpless if their dog – or another injured dog – needed their help.
Participants practice clearing airway obstructions and administering rescue breaths.
Dennis agreed to volunteer his time to teach the course because he believes in giving back to the community, and as a way of spreading this valuable knowledge of how to help animals in an emergency situation. Assisting in the class was Sarah McCoy, a member of the Friends for Life Dog Training team and instructor of next Saturday’s course on Calming Relational Massage for dog owners to perform on their dogs.
Dennis Fehling, far right, and Sarah McCoy, second from right, give instructions.
Sarah is certified through the Animal Behavior College in Pet Grooming and Dog Behavior and Training, as well as Pet Massage, Cat Behavior and Management, and Pet Nutrition and Diet. She enjoys sharing what she has learned – and is continually learning – with owners who would like to grow in their knowledge of their pets. With expertise in such diverse fields, Sarah wears many hats. “At Paws In Hand, we offer positive reinforcement-based training and will in the future also provide mobile pet grooming,” she says of her business.
Sarah has also agreed to donate her time to this course to support the historic preservation of the Tetherow Homestead. Built in 1878, the homestead is the oldest house in Deschutes County and was the site of one of the first three crossings of the Deschutes River, the first use of the Deschutes for irrigation, and also the site of the first brewery in the county. “I live close to the Tetherow Homestead,” Sarah says, “and I’ve always enjoyed walking along the river near it. I look forward to seeing the house restored and the property maintained. It’s a beautiful, tranquil place to visit.”
Tranquil Tetherow Crossing Park, and the historic homestead, viewed from the Deschutes River
Did you miss the CPR and First Aid class but you’d still like to join us for dog massage this weekend? Don’t worry! We are pro-rating the last 3 courses in this unique dog care series so it’s not too late! Call us at 541-548-7275 to sign up or drop by Cascade Swim Center or the Activity Center on Canal behind Bi-Mart.
Kids 7 & up are welcome and encouraged to attend – we hope to get Pam from Friends for Life out to do some awesome demonstrations with her nose work student dogs who can find objects by scent even out in Tetherow Crossing Park!
The schedule for the remaining classes is as follows:
May 20th – 10 – 11:30. Learn massage therapy tips for dogs from Sarah McCoy of Friends for Life Dog Training.
June 10th – Dr. Bernadette Hartman, DVM will present a class on how to use essential oils for your dog. 10 – 11.
For the above classes, instructors will bring their own dogs to demonstrate the techniques. Please do not bring your dog unless specifically requested.
June 24th – grooming tips from Shannon Dayton, a professional local dog groomer. Learn how to clip your dog’s nails, clean their ears, the basics of grooming different types of coats, some tips on products and tools, etc. 10 – 11. As long as your dogs are DOG FRIENDLY and won’t be distracting in the group class, you can bring your dog to get tips on specific grooming issues.
The Deschutes River, viewed from one of the oldest crossing points in the county.
If you'd like to support our efforts to restore the Tetherow Homestead, you can donate at any of our facilities, by phone (541-548-7275) or online:
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