I took my first First Aid/CPR for Pets class throught the American Red Cross last week and it was great. The only problem was I don't think it was advertised very well as there were only 3 of us who showed up. The last class I took was probably a hundred years ago in a crowded classroom when Community Schools was still around. Now they have cat and dog manikins you can actually practice on.

The class was designed primarily for dogs, but because I am a cat person, she covered both species. It was very informative and you received a Cat or Dog First Aid book.

When, two days later, one of my cats stopped breathing, I was able to administer CPR and get him breathing again. He died anyway, but I was able to put my new found skills to the test. I hope I don't have to use them again anytime soon, but knowing what needs to be done in the event of an emergency is very comforting.

I would recommend anyone who owns a pet to take a class like this. It might save your pet down the line.