Port Reading Fire Company Receives Donation of Pet Oxygen Masks

Pet parents in Port Reading can breathe a little easier because local first responders have a new tool to help save family pets in home fires and other emergencies. Port Reading Fire Company #1 recently received a donation of two sets of life-saving pet oxygen masks from at-home pet services provider Canine Company.

The kits were requested by Chief Kurt Delibero, after he learned about Canine Company’s campaign to outfit first responders with the life-saving equipment. “This donation, not only betters the fire department with the adequate equipment to save a pet,” the Chief said, “it gives a sense of reassurance to our community that their pets will be taken care of in a house fire. As a pet parent myself, I want first responders to have that capability to save my pets in an emergency.”

Family pets are at special risk during a home fire because they cannot to leave the house without help. An estimated 40,000 die each year nationwide from smoke inhalation. Human oxygen masks do not fit the shape of most pets’ snouts, making it difficult for first responders to provide life-saving oxygen on scene. The donated masks are designed for the shape of an animal’s snout. Each set includes masks in three sizes to fit a wide range of pets – from small mammals like rabbits to giant breed dogs.

“Our company mission is to keep pets healthy, safe and happy,” says Renee Coughlin of Canine Company. “We do that with our products and services, and with our pet masks donation campaign. Over the past 10 years, we’ve provided masks to more than 500 fire departments and rescue squads in the communities where we do business. We want to be sure every pet has the best chance to survive in an emergency.”

To ensure rescuers know there are pets in a home, Canine Company provided free “Pets Inside” decals to the fire department for distribution to local pet parents. The stickers also can be requested by mail through the Request a Decal form on the company’s website at www.caninecompany.com. Canine Company helps families across New York, New England, and New Jersey keep their pets healthy, safe and happy at home with services like Invisible Fence pet containment systems and Manners dog obedience training.

Port Reading Fire Company #1 provides fire protection services to some 2000 households in the Port Reading section of Woodbridge Township from its firehouse. For information about becoming a volunteer, stop by the firehouse on West Avenue or visit the company’s Facebook page.