Free doggie breathing masks could save a pet's life

A first responder fits a special pet breathing mask over a dog's nose. (Courtesy photo)

WILTON, Conn. - Invisible Fence is making available pet oxygen masks to help in the event of a fire in which smoke inhalation threatens the animal’s life.

When a fire strikes a home, smoke inhalation is one of the most lethal factors affecting victims, and pets are no exception.

The problem is that pets’ airways and lung capacity don’t always match up well with equipment that first responders use on humans.

Unfortunately, oxygen masks designed for humans are often too wide and too shallow to properly fit over an animal’s snout, which means oxygen cannot be administered efficiently. As a result, many pets perish before they have a chance to receive proper veterinary care.

Other times, firefighters use vast amounts of oxygen trying to help a pet as the mask fit loosely.

Invisible Fence first came up with the idea for Project Breathe in 2007 upon learning of estimates that 40,000 to 150,000 pets die in fires each year, with most succumbing to smoke inhalation.

The free kits are available to both Fire and Rescue Departments, said Audrey Lindner, a spokesman for Invisible Fence.

Through Invisible Fence Brand’s Project Breathe initiative, more than 10,000 pet oxygen kits have been donated across the United States and Canada. For more information, or to request a kit for your organization, visit http://www.invisiblefence.com/giving-back/project-breathe/request-a-mask-donation.

Each pet oxygen mask kit contains three reusable masks appropriately sized for small, medium, and large animals, such as cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, goats, and calves.

Several area fire departments like Milton and Rochester already have breathing apparatus for pets. Lebanon Fire said it did not, while calls to Lebanon Rescue were not immediately returned.

Inivisible Fence of Southern Maine can also be reached at 800-585-2803.