Hantsport company donating pet oxygen mask kits to help keep animals safe

Two kits presented to Kentville Fire Department on March 6

AHantsport company is helping to ensure that Nova Scotia firefighters and other first responders have the tools they need to help animals overcome by smoke.

Bryanna Zwicker, Invisible Fence Brand sales and marketing manager and pet consultant, said company owner Pam Murray began donating pet oxygen mask kits to first responder, animal welfare, and other organizations in 2008. The purpose is to help keep pets safe.

She said they kept getting feedback that firefighters and other first responders were having to use oxygen masks designed for humans on pets and other animals in emergency situations.

One of the first kits to be

donated went to the Kentville Fire Department, and firefighters have used it many times. Recently, firefighters used the mask to revive a cat.

On March 6, Zwicker donated two new pet oxygen mask kits to the department on behalf of Invisible Fence. This was the 150th donation of its kind made by the company over the past 15 years.

“It really comes down to just making sure that our first responders have the appropriate tools on hand, because when a crisis happens, it comes down to seconds that make a difference,” Zwicker said.

Along with goldendoodle Lulu, Zwicker demonstrated to firefighters how to use the masks. The kits come with three masks with rubber dams, a small, a medium, and a large. The kits include two slip leads and a flow chart that shows how to properly use them.

Bryanna Zwicker, Invisible Fence Brand sales and marketing manager and pet consultant, and Lulu the goldendoodle are introduced by Ian Fairclough, Kentville’s deputy fire chief, prior to a demonstration on March 6.

The masks can be used to revive cats, dogs, or farm animals that have been overcome by smoke conditions. Zwicker said a veterinarian should then be contacted to provide emergency care.

Although the kits cost approximately $100 excluding the oxygen tank, Zwicker said Invisible Fence donates them to first responder organizations for free.

“We encourage all local first responders to reach out to Invisible Fence if they know of a department that’s in need of one,” Zwicker said.

Ian Fairclough, Kentville’s deputy fire chief, said you never know what you’re going to find at a fire scene on any given day. He can’t count the number of times firefighters from Kentville, or other departments,

“It really comes down to just making sure that our first responders have the appropriate tools on hand, because when a crisis happens, it comes down to seconds that make a difference.” Bryanna Zwicker

have used the pet oxygen mask donated in 2008.

Fairclough said many people, including firefighters, have pets. It hits them hard to find animals in distress and they want to be able to help them just the same as people. The pet oxygen mask kits can give animals overcome by smoke a better chance of survival.

“Having this here, if we ever run into an animal with smoke inhalation, allows us to give it immediate First Aid until we or the family can get the animal to a vet,” Fairclough said.