LOW MOOR - Fire departments and rescue squads in Alleghany County have received pet oxygen masks to help save the lives of animals during fires.
Invisible Fence Brand of Virginia has donated 12 pet oxygen mask kits to the county. The donation will help reduce the number of pets killed or injured in house fires in the county. According to estimates, between 40,000 and 150,000 pets die each year in fires.
Invisible Fence donated the kits to the county after an application was filed with the company by Ryan Muterspaugh, director for Public Safety for Alleghany County.
The kits will be used by fire and rescue officials after they have assured that human life is safe during fires.
“When given the opportunity, many rescue personnel would like to help pets, but have not had the proper equipment to do so,” Muterspaugh said. “In the past, first responders have tried adapting human oxygen masks to fit an animal, but human masks do not fit properly on the nose of dogs and cats, thus not supplying the necessary supply of oxygen.”
The plastic, cup-shaped animal resuscitation masks come in three sizes. They were originally developed for use by veterinarians. They seal around the muzzle of an animal tighter than a human mask.
“This helps first responders deliver the right amount of oxygen to the pet and also protects firefighters from an injured animal that may try to bite out of fear.
Company officials from Invisible Fence Brand of Virginia presented the oxygen mask kits to county fire and rescue officials Tuesday the governmental complex in Low Moor.
Representatives from Alleghany Highlands All-Breed Rescue were also on hand for the ceremony.
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