East Hampton Fire Department Receives Pet Oxygen Masks

The East Hampton Volunteer Fire Department has added specially designed oxygen masks for pets to their toolkit of life-saving equipment thanks to a donation by at-home pet services provider Canine Company (www.caninecompany.com).

East Hampton Fire Chief Gregg Voelker requested the kits for his department after a local citizen advised him of the company’s campaign to donated the masks to first responders in communities where it does business. Canine Company serves Connecticut, as well as Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont.

Pets are at special risk during home fires because they are unable to leave the house without help. An estimated 40,000 die from smoke inhalation each year across the U.S.. The cone-shaped masks are designed for a pet’s snout, which human masks don’t fit. Each set includes masks in three sizes to fit a range of pets -- from small mammals to giant breed dogs.

In the past year alone, Canine Company has donated over 200 kits to fire departments and first aid squads in 70 communities across New England, New York and New Jersey. Other central Connecticut departments that have requested and received the masks include Cromwell, Farmington and Glastonbury.

The donated masks have been used to save more than a dozen pets in the past year -- including four dogs, seven cats and a rabbit.

“Our company was founded by a family of pet lovers and our mission is to help other families keep their pets healthy, safe and happy,” said Renee Coughlin of Canine Company. “Our goal is to get these in to the hands of first responders in every community we serve o they are prepared to handle an emergency involving family pets.”

To help ensure first responders know there are pets in need of rescue, Canine Company is offering free “pets inside” decals that families can place on a front door or window. They are available by completing the Request a Decal form on the company’s website.

Canine Company provides at-home pet care products and services including the Invisible Fence®brand pet containment systems and Manners obedience trainingto pet parents. Through its Canine Love campaign, the company supports pet rescue and provides pet oxygen masks to first responders. For information, visit www.caninecompany.com or call 800-818-3647.