PEORIA (25News Now) – Forty thousand pets die in house fires each year, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. The Peoria County Animal Protection Services said they see around 12 animals annually for smoke inhalation from house fires.
To help local firefighters in pet rescues, the Peoria Humane Society donated ten sets of life-saving pet oxygen masks to Peoria County fire departments in September.
“We don’t want people ever to go back into the burning structure to save anybody or anything, so that’s left up to the firefighters,” said Fire Chief of Logan-Trivoli Fire, David Tuttle.
Peoria Human Society contacted Fire Chief Tuttle to help supply Peoria County Fire Departments with oxygen masks.
“Having this additional ability to help the animal, potentially saving the animal’s life, is very important to not only the animal but to the animal itself,” explained Tuttle.
Before having pet masks, fire departments had to use human oxygen masks.
“The human mask is molded for individuals’ faces. The pet mask goes around the dog or the cat,” said Tuttle.
The masks come in various sizes and are specially designed to fit snugly around the animal’s nose and mouth, ensuring 100% oxygen delivery to their lungs.
“We’ve just responded to the need to give the firefighters something to assist with pet rescues. The good news is these masks are specifically designed to fit around the face and the nose and mouth of a pet so that they can provide oxygen straight into the lungs rather than having the pet suffer after they’ve been exposed to a fire.” Director of Peoria Humane Society, Kitty Yanko, shared why they wanted to provide the Peoria fire departments with this tool, “if we can provide support to allow pets to survive and live through a fire we know that the owners will be really happy and that gives us that sense that its important and we want to help with that.”
Chief Tuttle said a majority of the Peoria County fire departments do carry these masks to ensure you and your furry friends are safe and cared for.
