They are the silent victims. Every year, thousands of pets die in house fires across North America, usually due to smoke inhalation.
Now Flin Flon firefighters are equipped to apply their lifesaving skills to victims of the four-legged variety.
Pet oxygen masks – used to resuscitate cats and dogs suffering from smoke inhalation – have become part of the fire department’s arsenal.
“There have been times when I’ve been at a fire and the lady at the house has told me that she would rather have the pet out of the house first before we put the fire out,” says Fire Chief Jim Petrie.
“A pet can be [like] a person to people, a member of the family. It’s as simple as that. It’s not a pet anymore; it’s a member of the family.”
The Northern Veterinary Clinic, which has an office in Flin Flon, teamed up with the manufacturer of the oxygen masks, Invisible Fence Brand, to donate three masks to the fire station.
Firefighters will select which mask to use based on the size and type of pet in need. The smallest mask is designed for a cat or a small dog. The two other masks fit over the snouts of medium- and large-size dogs.
Brian Mackie, training officer for the fire department, is eager to teach the firefighters how to use the masks.
“These masks truly are blessings for Flin Flon,” says Mackie. “We know of situations when residents ran back into burning homes to save a pet. It’s understandable, but extremely dangerous. These masks will give residents comfort in knowing that we can save their pets if they are suffering from smoke inhalation.”
Grateful
Equally grateful for the masks is Carmen Ward, an animal advocate and shelter manager for the
Flin Flon, Creighton and Area SPCA.
“I think it’s exciting that we have this in our community now,” says Ward, who volunteered her dog for a demonstration of the masks. “Just the fact that the bigger towns and cities have them, now [that] we’re included it’s great.”
The donation was part of Invisible Fence’s Project Breathe, a campaign that aims to equip every fire station in Canada, United States and the UK with pet oxygen masks.
“We realize that humans are the first priority, but in many cases, pets can be saved if firefighters have the right equipment,” says John Dryden, owner of Invisible Fence Brand of Southern Manitoba. “Project Breathe is simply a way of giving firefighters the tools necessary to save pets’ lives.”
In a news release issued by Invisible Fence, a pet owner whose dogs were recently rescued using donated oxygen masks expressed
gratitude.
“They [the dogs] are just like family,” says the owner, who requested anonymity. “I don’t
know what I’d do without them. Things can be replaced. Lives can’t, whether they’re animals or people.”
Dr. Ainsley Dyson and Dr. Karen Dyson of the Northern Veterinary Clinic partnered with Invisible Fence to make the donation possible.
Dr. Karen Dyson met with Petrie and Mackie on Wednesday morning to present the masks and provide a demonstration of how they are used.
