Online Pet First Aid Course Offers Pet Lovers the Gift of Peace of Mind this Holiday Season.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Pet ownership is at an all-time high. According to the latest survey from the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), 63 percent of all U.S. households own a pet. Of these pets, Americans own approximately 73 million dogs and 90 million cats.

For the dog and/or cat lover on your gift list, knowing the right steps to take during an emergency can not only provide peace of mind for the owner, it can also help protect their pet from further injury or even help save its life.

That's why Connected Learning Network (CLN), an industry leader in web-based distance learning, is pleased to offer a new Online Pet First Aid Course available at www.petfirstaidonline.com.

"A lot of pet owners don't realize there are some basic steps they can take in an emergency before they take their pet to the vet," said Dr. Tom Day, a veterinarian who specializes in emergency medicine and author of "The Pet Lover's Guide to First Aid & Emergencies."

Day, who served as a professional advisor and contributor to the course added, "This Online Pet First Aid Course is designed to teach basic emergency first aid from the comfort of your own home at your own pace so you can help prevent injury to yourself and further injury to your pet."

For just $35, the course provides detailed instruction and videos and participants will learn how to:

* recognize emergencies

* provide emergency life support

* handle sudden illness

* care for wounds, bleeding and burns

* treat physical injuries

* handle poisoning and environmental emergencies

* prepare for disasters

To purchase the course, visit www.petfirstaidonline.com and click on "Start Learning Now."

PETCO, a leading specialty retailer of premium pet food, supplies and services with more than 800 neighborhood stores, has teamed up with CLN to also offer the course at www.PETCO.com.

"We are our pets' protectors and most trusted friends," said PETCO Pet Services Coordinator Caren Dutta. "We're pleased to provide this excellent emergency preparedness course which can prevent a serious situation from becoming life-threatening."

Connected Learning Network, Inc. of Louisville, Ky., is an industry leader in web-based distance learning that harnesses technology for interactive learning since 1999. CLN is a comprehensive eLearning services company that specializes in interactive and distance learning products for educational institutions, healthcare institutions, corporations and professional associations. The company's services for its customers and partners in North America and Europe include a fully scalable eLearning software platform, server operations, a live 24/7 customer service center, and content development. For more information, please visit www.connectedlearning.net.

For a high-res, downloadable photograph, visit http://presskit.petfirstaidonline.com.