The American Red Cross will train area pet owners on May 8 to provide first aid to injured cats and dogs.

The course is designed to educate pet owners in CPR, first aid and choking. The course also will outline treatment of wounds, cardiac arrest care and procedures for moving an injured pet. Residents should understand and be able to apply basic first aid techniques to animals, said Todd Mikesell, health and safety services coordinator for the American Red Cross.

“We want to teach basic techniques to stabilize pets until the owner can get to a vet,” he said. “For the first time, the DeKalb Chapter of the American Red Cross will be offering a course teaching basic first aid techniques for dogs and cats.”

Initially, Bethany Animal Hospital, 2400 Bethany Road, Sycamore, was going to host the class. Instead, it is co-sponsoring the event with the American Red Cross.

“Being able to stabilize pets is crucial for our animal owners to understand,” said Susan Poole, manager at Bethany Animal Hospital. “We have noticed a greater concern among our clients that want the necessary information to save their pet’s life in an emergency.”

The course mirrors a class the Los Angeles chapter offered in 2000. In August 2003, the Fox River chapter implemented the training into its program.

“The course is now offered once a month, and the response by the public has been great,” said Ron Clayton, Fox River health and safety manager.

The two-hour class is accompanied by a textbook that explains the mechanics of CPR, breathing emergencies, identifying sudden illnesses and poisoning.

“I think that the course will be beneficial in educating pet owners and the DeKalb and Sycamore community,” said Josh Fillers, a DeKalb resident and pet owner.

To enroll in the course or for more information, call the DeKalb Chapter of the American Red Cross at 756-7339.