RCFR receives donation of life saving pet oxygen masks

Friday March 8th, Invisible Fence Brand of Middle TN came to Rutherford County Fire Rescue, to donate 10 bags of pet sized oxygen masks and supplies to be placed on rescue vehicles. Invisible Fence Brand is a company specializing in electronic pet containment; their Project Breathe Program helps First Responders provide critical care to beloved furry family members. Company representatives Brian Atkison and Jef Fox brought demonstration dog Bernie to Station 51, for a hands-on demonstration of how the masks fit a pet’s nose and discussed how to resuscitate an animal regardless of size. The masks are designed to fit cats, dogs and other small pets.

As of 2016, over 6,800 donated kits have resulted in over 182 pet lives saved from fire and smoke inhalation. Each kit includes a small, medium and large mask along with instructions for usage, tubing and a slip lead for the animal. This equipment will be used to resuscitate and save family pets affected by a fire, or other emergency. Public Safety Chairman Pettus Read, animal lover and dog owner, initiated the effort to find the pet masks for Rutherford County Fire Rescue.

Industry sources estimate 40,000 to 150,000 pets die each year in fires. Most succumb to smoke inhalation and in most states, emergency responders lack the equipment to resuscitate and save pets. That’s why Invisible Fence Brand created the Project Breathe Program – a pet oxygen mask donation program designed to provide oxygen mask kits to fire departments and other first responders. Their goal is to equip every fire department in the U.S and Canada.

Invisible Fence representatives will be returning to RCFR on March 20, when Dr. Kristen Datte from Blue Pearl Veterinary Service in Franklin will be conducting Animal CPR Training for all firefighters at Station 51.