Reporter – Aliciana Martinez
PERRYSBURG, Ohio — The Perrysburg city and township fire departments have received 11 pet oxygen mask kits designed to help firefighters save animals suffering from smoke inhalation after a fire.
Invisible Fence of Northwest Ohio donated the kits through Project Breathe, a nationwide program that provides specialized oxygen masks to first responders to help treat pets during emergencies.
Perrysburg City Fire Chief Bill McCullough said the equipment will help firefighters provide care for animals, who cannot use the same equipment as human patients.
“Our ambulances are equipped for humans, so we have all the necessary advanced life support equipment for human beings. We’re really limited on what we’re able to do for animals,” McCullough said.
The pet oxygen masks connect to a medical oxygen supply, allowing firefighters to provide oxygen directly to an animal’s snout. The kits include three mask sizes designed to accommodate animals of different sizes, along with hoses to connect the masks to oxygen equipment.
Bob Elliott, a branch manager with Invisible Fence of Northwest Ohio, said the donation is an opportunity to give back to the community while helping first responders protect pets.
“Just giving back to the community and providing fire departments with, you know, the proper equipment to potentially save pets’ lives,” Elliott said.
Project Breathe was created by the Invisible Fence brand in 2006 to provide pet oxygen mask kits to fire departments and other first responders. Fire departments across the country can request donated kits through the program.
With the new equipment, Perrysburg firefighters will have additional resources to help animals affected by fires and other emergencies involving smoke inhalation.