Ashford Fire Department Receives Donation of Pet Oxygen Masks

The Ashford Volunteer Fire Department recently received a donation of two sets of specially designed oxygen masks for pets – one for each station -- from at-home pet services provider Canine Company.

The masks were requested by EMT Tracy Stancil, after she learned about the company’s charitable program to donate masks. In making the request, she explained how, when the department rescued two cats from a fire last year, they struggled to provide oxygen using a human mask.

Fortunately, said Stancil, a mutual aid company had pet masks. “What a difference they made!”

According to Canine Company, the lives of at least eight Connecticut pets were saved last year by first responders using the donated masks – a dog and a cat rescued from a fire in Branford and six pets pulled from a fire in South Windsor.

Pets are at special risk during a home fire because they are unable to leave the house without help. An estimated 40,000 pets die from smoke inhalation across the U.S. each year. The cone-shaped masks donated by Canine Company are designed specifically for a pet’s snout. Each set includes masks in three sizes to accommodate pets from small mammals to giant breed dogs.

“We are grateful to all the first responders who care about the well-being of family pets and are happy to be provide these mask kits,” said Renee Coughlin of Canine Company. “Our company mission is to help families keep their pets healthy, safe and happy at home. We do that with our products and services, like Invisible Fence®systems and Manners training, but also with this important charitable program.”

To ensure rescuers know there are pets in a home, Canine Company has offered free “Pets Inside” decals to local pet parents. They can be ordered through this Request a Decal form.

Canine Company has donated over 1,300 mask kits to first responders in more than 570 communities across New England, New York and New Jersey. Fire departments and first aid squads interested in a donation can make a request by writing to petmasks@caninecompany.com or calling 800-818-3647.