Company donates oxygen masks for pets

VERNON — Glenwood Pochuck Ambulance Corps in Vernon Township has a new tool to use when pets are victims of smoke inhalation in a home fire.

Canine Company donated specially designed pet oxygen masks to the unit yesterday.

“When fire strikes, people know to get out of the home as quickly as possible, but family pets often try to hide and end up with severe smoke inhalation,” said James Hatch of Ogdensburg-based representative of Canine Company. "Until now, rescuers had to use masks made for humans, which don’t deliver oxygen effectively because they don’t fit over an animal’s snout."

Captain Colin M. Skeele said "Glenwood Pochuck Volunteer Ambulance Corps is dedicated to providing high-quality emergency medical services to all members of our community. Our service responds to structure fires several times each year. When family pets require medical attention at these fires, we are pleased to now be able to offer them care, through a donation from Canine Company. The donation of three pet oxygen kits will help us save animals’ lives."

Each kit contains three reusable masks in sizes for small, medium and large pets. Most often, they are needed for dogs and cats, but also can be used to resuscitate other pets. The masks connect to standard oxygen tanks that rescue teams carry.