Middletown Fire Dept. Gets 11 Pet Oxygen Masks

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Last Wednesday, the Middletown Township Fire Department received a donation of 11 sets of specially-designed pet oxygen mask kits.

The oxygen masks were donated by at-home pet services provider Canine Company. They were given to firefighters at the Lincroft Fire Company, but will be deployed to all eleven Middletown fire houses.

Pictured above is Alison Tharp, the Canine Company's Monmouth County representative. She shows how one of these special masks fits on Mya Russo, the dog. Family pets are at special risk during a home fire because they are unable to leave the house without help. Tragically, an estimated 40,000 pets die each year nationwide from smoke inhalation.

Human oxygen masks do not fit the shape of most pets’ snouts, making it difficult for firefighters to provide life-saving oxygen effectively on scene. The pet oxygen masks given to Middletown last week are specifically designed for the shape of an animal’s snout. Each set includes masks in three sizes to fit a wide range of pets – from small mammals like rabbits to giant breed dogs.

This all started when a concerned Lincroft resident, Stanee Rae Murray, contacted the Lincroft Fire Company asking if they carried pet oxygen masks. When told they did not, Murray sent the volunteer fire company the link for Project Breathe: https://www.invisiblefence.com/why-invisible-fence/project-breathe.

They then worked together and with Canine Company to donate the masks.

“We embrace the suggestions of our residents, and in this case it was a resident of the Lincroft section of town that brought this opportunity to our attention,” said Chief Ryan Clarke. “The department pursued this further with the Canine Company and we were able to secure this very generous donation.”

“Our goal is to get these masks into to the hands of first responders in every community we serve," said Tharp from Canine Company.

According to Tharp, this is one of the largest donations Canine Company has made in the 10 years of doing the donations.

Lincroft Fire Company actually rescued a dog from a house fire this past summer, and could have used the masks then.

“It’s reassuring to know that all of our fire stations will now be equipped with pet oxygen masks to help keep our four-legged friends safe,” said Middletown Mayor Stephanie Murray. “Our amazing all-volunteer fire department is always seeking new ways to better serve our residents — including our beloved pets!”

The Middletown Township Fire Department is an all-volunteer organization servicing Middletown’s forty-eight square mile response area.

Canine Company, which is based in Connecticut, provides at-home pet care products and services including the Invisible Fence brand systems and Manners dog obedience training to pet parents across New England, New York and New Jersey.

Top three photos credited to Laurie Kegley, MTFD PIO photographer. Bottom photo provided by Middletown Township.