Protecting Your Pet: CPR

(WSVN) -- From time to time we hear miraculous stories about animals saving people's lives.

But would you know what to do if your furry friend was in trouble?

Destiny wouldn't be barking today if not for her owner.

Found lifeless at the bottom of the pool - Joanne acted quickly

Joanne Goodridge, Destiny's Owner, says, "She had no heart beat, nothing and so I moved her tongue and I started performing CPR."

Veterinarian Dr. David Cox says, "He's on his right hand side of his body and we're going to start breathing for him."

Pet owners across America are attending classes to learn mouth to snout resuscitation.

Using Resussa Dog - a canine - CPR - model - they practice the pressure and rhythm needed to restart an animals heart.

Dr. Cox says, "One, that's good now you're getting it... three, four, five, breath.

We try to wrap our hands around the muzzle and form a seal to keep the lips closed and then you have a small opening around the mouth around the nose that you then breath through so if your at all squeamish about putting your mouth on your dog's nose you don't actually have to do that."

But most pet owners don't even think twice about it.

Dr. Cox says, "That sometimes is enough to get them breathing again on their own or at least to buy some time as your driving rapidly to the veterinary office."

Thanks to Joanne and pet CPR - Destiny - is alive and enjoying life to the fullest.

Joanne say, "I look at her and I say, 'Gosh, I really did something fantastic.'"

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Contact: mmitzel@wsvn.com