Needham Firefighters Receive Donation of Life-Saving Equipment for Pets

When fire strikes at home, the family pets are often at greatest risk. An estimated 40,000 die each year from smoke inhalation because they hide rather than try to leave the house.

To help save those pets, Canine Company has donated specially designed pet oxygen masks to the Needham fire department. Needham EMS coordinator Eddie Sullivan requested the donation after learning about the company's Canine Saves project from a neighboring department. Other area departments that have received the masks include Franklin, Acton, Grafton and West Bridgewater.

The Canine Saves project provides the life-saving pet masks to first responders in the communities where the company's customers live. "Our company mission is to help families keep their pets healthy, safe and happy at home. We do that with the products and services we offer and it's the focus of our charitable programs, too," said Renee Coughlin of Canine Company.

So first responders know to search for pets, the company is offering free "animals inside" decals for families with pets. When placed on a front door or window, the decal alerts firefighters that there are pets in the home. Needham residents can request a free decal athttps://www.caninecompany.com/topic/petdecal.aspx.

The company has donated more than 90 sets of masks to first responders across New England, New York and New Jersey so far this year. Fire departments and municipal EMS units that do not yet have the masks can apply for a donation at www.caninecompany.com/topic/charities.

Canine Company provides at-home pet care products and services including the Invisible Fence® brand pet containment systems and Manners obedience training to pet parents across New Jersey, New York and the New England states.