New Brunswick Fire Department Now Equipped with Pet Oxygen Masks

The New Brunswick Fire Department recently received a donation of six sets of specially designed oxygen masks for pets from at-home pet services provider Canine Company.

The kits are being deployed across the department’s six primary response units and all first responders have been trained on how to use them so they are able to resuscitate family pets on the scene of a fire or other household emergency.

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

According to Canine Company, at least 14 pets’ lives have been saved so far this year by first responders using the donated masks, including four pets in New Jersey.

“We thank these first responders for caring about the well being of family pets and are happy to be provide these mask kits to them,” said Renee Coughlin of Canine Company. “Our company mission is to help families keep their pets healthy, safe and happy at home. We do that with our products and services, like Invisible Fence® systems and Manners training, but also with this important charitable program.”

Over the past decade, Canine Company has donated masks to first responders in more than 550 communities across New England, New York and New Jersey. Other Middlesex County first responders that have requested and received mask donations include the Helmetta Fire Department, the Hopelawn Fire Department, the Madison First Aid Squad in Parlin, the Milltown Rescue Squad, the Morgan First Aid Squad in South Amboy, the Spotswood Fire Department, and Arbor Hose & Rescue in Piscataway.

To ensure rescuers know there are pets in a home, Canine Company has offered free “Pets Inside” decals to local pet parents. The stickers are available from the fire department, or can be requested by mail through the Request a Decal form on Canine Company’s website.