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Fire Dept.'s Get Breathing Mask For Pets In Fires

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Four Northwoods fire departments have some very modern equipment designed to save pets in emergency situations.

The Minocqua, Woodruff, Arbor Vitae and Hazelhurst fire departments have accepted donations of Invisible Fence Project Breathe program. The donation came from Invisible Fence of Northern Wisconsin. The mask allows firefighters and EMS staff to give oxygen to pets who are suffering from smoke inhalation when they are rescued from fire and often save pets' lives.

Eric Carlson is a Lieutenant and Inspector with Minocqua Fire.

He says these pet breathing devices are valuable because until now, pets suffering smoke inhalation didn't have options...

"....we get there and these animals need our help along with the people and now we have some stuff that we can use, so we have small, medium and large pet rescue masks that provide oxygen to the animals...."

Carlson says it's good the other area fire departments are getting the masks as many times people have multiple pets and with likely mutual aid among fire departments, more masks will be on the scene.

Carlson says firefighters often bring the pets out, or the residents bring them out when they get out.

Invisible Fence Brand has donated more than 18,000 pet oxygen masks to fire station across the U.S. and Canada.

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