Local fire departments receive donations of pet oxygen masks from InvisIble Fence Brand

MANHATTAN – Last month, on Aug. 4, the Manhattan Fire Protection District received three animal rescue oxygen mask kits from Invisible Fence Brand, as part of Project Breathe.

Project Breathe is a national effort by Invisible Fence to ensure fire departments in the United States and Canada have the proper equipment to help animals during a crisis, said Christina Landwehr, community outreach manager for Invisible Fence.

Here’s why it appears to be a good idea.

Lt. Steve Malone at the Manhattan Fire Protect District said that one of every five house fires has some form of pet issue, although the oxygen masks aren’t needed every time. Still, Malone recalled one fire, about seven years ago, when the district did use the older pet masks and it seemed to make a difference.

The firefighters took out about a dozen cats and at least one rabbit, Malone said. A couple animals required oxygen, which the firefighters administered with the older pet masks, he added.

“Most of them [the pets] were fine once we got some fresh air into their lungs,” Malone said. “We called the vet in town and took a couple of the bad ones there.”

Since 2010, Invisible Fence has donated about 330 these kits to fire departments throughout the country, Landwehr said. An estimated 40,000 to 150,000 pets die annually in house fires, most of the time due to smoke inhalation, according to Invisible Fence.

The goal, Landwehr said, is to give one kit a station, or one for every response vehicle. The entire cost is picked up the company; the kits are free.

“We are in the business of keeping dogs and cats safe,” Landwehr said, “so we wanted to supply fire departments with equipment that actually works for them when trying to save an animal from a fire.”

Each kit contains a small, medium and large mask – along with the proper tubing – in a red bag, Landwehr said. These masks are designed to fit over a snout and provide an airtight seal.

Instructions are included, as are easily identifiable stickers, so firefighters can quickly locate the masks in an emergency, Landwehr said. In addition to being ideal for dogs and cats, these masks also may help snakes and birds, Landwehr added.

“With these masks and the proper amount of oxygen being given,” Landwehr said, “we can see these animals back on their feet within 15 to 20 minutes, which is incredible.”

To receive a kit, interested fire departments should go to invisiblefence.com/o2 and fill out an application. The turnaround time is generally two weeks, Landwehr said, but that can vary depending on the number of orders needing to be filled.

An Invisible Fence representative brings out the kit, discusses procedure and then demonstrates proper use on a demo dog, Landwehr said. Sometimes, a local veterinarian is also present, in addition to the firefighters, to explain first aid and proper cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

Landwehr estimates that since the inception of Project Breathe, about 130 animal lives have been saved. Landwehr said that may be higher without Invisible Fence knowing it, since the company relies on the fire departments to provide that information.

“Truth be told, we hope they never have to use them,” Landwehr said, “and we’re always excited when they share with us when they have saved a pet.”

Several other local fire departments also have received the kits from Invisible Fence, although they have not needed to use them. Marisa Schrieber, public education coordinator for the New Lenox Fire Protection District, felt the kits enhance the department’s ability to assist a family in crisis.

“Many people consider their pets as family,” Schrieber said. “When a family is losing a house, helping the pet means one less stressful thing they have to go through.”

Bob Wilson, assistant chief at Frankfort Fire Protection District, agreed with Schrieber.

“More times than not, when someone says the family pet is in the house, we make every attempt to locate the pet,” Wilson said. “Those pets are someone’s loved ones, so we take that very seriously.”

In the past, firefighters did have to rely on oxygen masks for humans, but those masks don’t do a very good job on animals, Wilson said.

“We just did the best we could, trying to squeeze the mask over the face of the dog or cat,” Wilson said.

Ray Randich, deputy chief at the Joliet Fire Department, recalled instances when firefighters resuscitated pets on the scene, again using masks contoured for humans. They have not yet needed the pet masks, even though the department has fought fires at houses with pets inside since receiving the kits.

“Unfortunately, they [the pets] were already deceased,” Randich said.