Humane Society Gives Level Firefighters Pet Oxygen Masks

Two weeks after Level firefighters saved a black Labrador from a burning house in Churchville, the Humane Society of Harford County came to Level bearing gifts.

Director of the Humane Society of Harford County Mary Leavens presented the Level Volunteer Fire Company with three pet oxygen masks, in sizes small, medium and large.

Speaking in the bay of the Level Volunteer Fire Company, Leavens said that the volunteers' concern for animals "demonstrates your true commitment to the community."

When firefighters arrived at a two-story home on the 3600 block of Aldino Road on Feb. 11, the woman who lived there escaped but couldn't coax her dog, Chase, out of the house.

Capt. Matt Orf and Sgt. Clinton Polk of Level Volunteer Fire Company found Chase, and Polk carried him downstairs.

Polk used his oxygen mask to administer fresh air to the dog, then paramedic Bill Eyler fashioned a pet oxygen mask out of a plastic Wendy's cup.

"What made me think of the cup is we have pet oxygen masks on the truck in Cecil County, so I was looking for something like that," said Eyler, who volunteers at multiple fire departments in Cecil County.

According to Eyler, who attended the brief ceremony with the Humane Society on Feb. 25, the dog was "lifeless" when firefighters brought him outside.

The air through the cup revived the dog, who was later taken to a veterinarian for follow-up.

To show their gratitude for the firefighters, members of the Humane Society of Harford County took up a collection and purchased three pet oxygen masks for the Level Volunteer Fire Company.

"On behalf of our staff at the Humane Society of Harford County and all of the four-legged creatures that are unable to thank you, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts," said Leavens, whose son is also a firefighter at Level.

“It doesn’t matter if it is a human or pet, we always do our Level Best when it comes to EMS care," said Ambulance Captain Sandi Gallion.

Gallion said that that the company Invisible Fence had committed to donating a pet oxygen mask as well.

See Related:

• PHOTO: Fire Crews Save Dog in Aldino Blaze 
• Crews Respond to Fire on Aldino Road