COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- It was a fun Monday night for local first responders, who spent the evening training with their pets.

A group of Colorado Springs Firefighters, with the help of some friendly dogs, got a first hand look at how to care for animals in an emergency situation.

"What we are teaching them is important skills, potentially life-saving skills for animals in the field," Dr. Heather Becker, Training Coordinator with Animal Emergency Medical Training Group, said. "Things they can do prior to transporting them to a facility if sick or injured."

Becker said the training is crucial because when disaster strikes, firefighters and E.M.Ts need to be able to help not only people, but their pets too.

"When people ask me if I have children I say 'Yes, they are four-legged,'" Becker said. "So we do not see them as property, but our children."

"It is no just an animal issue but a human safety issue, so if we can protect pet owners from going in and trying to self-rescue knowing the first responders are trained to do that, it will provide a huge benefit," Kim Spelts, Trainer with A-EMT, said.

Some the procedures include animal CPR and first aid for cuts and burns.

The trainers said working with pets can be difficult because they can not say what they are feeling.

"What we try to do is bring a level of awareness and talk about these subtle signs of behavior that can indicate pain," Spelts said.

Spelts said first responders save the lives of animals every day - a little known fact that is gradually getting more attention.

"You could be on your way to the dog park, and you get into a crash, a first responder is there helping your animal," Spelts said.

If you would like to help out Animal Emergency Medical Training Group, they are always looking for monetary donations to support their training programs.

You can mail donations to:

Colorado Springs Fire Department
Attn: Animal Emergency Medical Training Group
375 Printers Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80912