Courtesy Baltimore County Fire Department
Cats and dogs in Baltimore County now stand more of a fighting chance to be rescued from fires thanks to one local company’s donation.
Invisible Fence Brand of Baltimore, based in Lutherville-Timonium, has given 58 pet-friendly oxygen mask kits to county fire departments to better equip first responders to save our furry friends. The $3,500 kits come in small, medium and large for cats and dogs of varying sizes.
The masks were handed over at the Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Company in Owings Mills on Wednesday afternoon. During the presentation, the department demonstrated on stuffed animals how they can use the masks to save pets’ lives.
“For many pet owners, cats, dogs and other animals are members of the family,” County Fire Chief John Hohman said in a statement. “We know how important it is to rescue them when we can.”
Each kit is designed to fit over a pet’s muzzle. Once units have rescued an animal from a burning building, they can hook them up to the device and give them oxygen.
“We can actually ventilate the dog, if they’re not breathing well,” Fire Dept. Lt. Amy Backhaus told WJZ.
In addition to cats and dogs, the department says it also saved birds, rabbits, deer and even horses from fires.
Invisible Fence donated the masks as part of an initiative called “Project Breathe.” The company says the program has saved thousands of pets from fire and smoke inhalation.
