Local fire dept. receives pet oxygen mask donation

It could be the difference between life and death for your pet – if they're caught in a fire, Pet Oxygen Masks. That's why the Salisbury Kennel Club has donated a set of them to each of the city's fire department stations.

The fire department says these masks are crucial to helping a dog survive a fire after they have been rescued.

In fact, last month Salisbury firefighters rescued a pit bull from a house and were able to quickly give the unconscious dog oxygen by using a mask.

"We've had numerous interactions with pets on fire calls in the past and historically we had to take something that was made for a human and try and make it work on a pet. It didn't fit the right way, it wouldn't work the right way so now luckily with these new masks they've developed in the five to ten years we're able to apply them to the pet. It fits them nicely and it helps us aid in their resuscitation," explains Lt. Chris Truitt of Salisbury Fire Dept. EMS.

We're told the sets donated include different sizes and can be used on dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals.