Pets Get Boost from Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Company

OWINGS MILLS, MD — A local company is working with first responders to help Baltimore County pets stay safe in the event of an emergency. Invisible Fence of Baltimore delivered 58 pet oxygen kits to Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Company on Greenspring Avenue recently for distribution across the county. Now, every Baltimore County volunteer and career fire station has a kit containing small, medium and large masks, with a price tag of nearly $3,500.

“Being able to help our local firefighters save pets’ lives is very important to us,” Jeff Little, owner of Invisible Fence Brand of Baltimore, said in a statement. Tens of thousands of pets are injured, some fatally, each year because of fire and smoke inhalation, according to estimates from industry experts.

The oxygen mask covers the muzzle of a pet and provides oxygen if there is a fire emergency.

"For many pet owners, cats, dogs and other animals are members of the family," Baltimore County Fire Chief John Hohman said. "We know how important it is to rescue them when we can."

In fact, Chestnut Ridge personnel recently rescued a kitten who fell through a cabinet into a drop ceiling.

Photo courtesy of Baltimore County Police and Fire.