Rockton Fire Department is recipient of pet oxygen masks

By Jean Seegers

Reporter

ROCKTON – Losing a pet can be a devastating experience. Unlike humans, pets instinctually look for a hiding place for protection during a fire, while humans instinctively escape a fire by running out of a burning building.

Pets are usually left to fend for themselves while their owners are at work, leaving them vulnerable to fires.

Far too many pets die each year of smoke asphyxiation. Fire fighters do their best to get pets safely out of the burning structures, but are not always able to revive them unless they have the proper equipment – pet oxygen masks.

Invisible Fence Company has donated the masks through their “Project Breath” program.  The masks are available to all fire departments free of charge.

The Rockton Fire Department recently received the masks. Both the Rockton Fire Ambulances, and Firefighters and Paramedics have been trained to use the masks in the event of an animal rescue.

These specially designed animal masks can be used both on conscious pets and have suffered from smoke inhalation and pets that need to be resuscitated after losing consciousness from exposure to dangerous toxic fumes.

Courtesy photo

Invisible Fencing Company recently donated pet masks through their “Project Breath” program. The masks can prevent smoke asphyxiation and from breathing toxic fumes. The Rockton Fire Department now has the masks in service.