Islip Terrace Firefighters Now Equipped with Special Oxygen Masks

The Islip Terrace Fire Department have a new tool that can help them save family pets rescued in home fires and other emergencies. The department received a donation of two sets of pet oxygen masks from at-home pet services provider Canine Company.

The kits were requested by the department after it dealt with a pet rescue situation in December. Family pets are at special risk during a home fire because they cannot to leave the house without help. As a result, 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 new masks are part of an effort to ensure the department is prepared to rescue family pets in fires and other emergencies. Designed specifically for the shape of an animal’s snout, which human oxygen masks don’t fit, the masks come in sets of three sized to fit a wide range of pets – from small mammals like rabbits to giant breed dogs. According to Canine Company, donated masks were used by first responders to save more than 18 pets – including six dogs, 11 cats and a rabbit – last year.

“At Canine Company, our mission is to help families keep their pets healthy, safe and happy at home,” says Renee Coughlin of Canine Company. “We do that with the products and services we offer, and through 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. And we look forward to continuing to make these donations in the coming year.”

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 are available from the fire department, or 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. For more information, visit www.caninecompany.com.