Pets in the Lakeland can breathe a little easier thanks to an equipment donation to the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority (BRFA).
After seeing how effective they could be online, MD of Bonnyville resident Silke Skinner had the idea to bring pet oxygen masks to the region.
“I saw on Facebook there was a group in the United States that used the masks to rescue a dog, and I heard their fire departments had the masks donated. I talked with the BRFA and found out we didn't have any. I had actually started a fundraiser when I learned Invisible Fence was donating the kits,” explained Skinner.
She contacted the northern Alberta branch of Invisible Fence, who agreed to donate 11 pet oxygen mask kits to the BRFA.
Each kit comes equipped with three different sized masks and the required tubing for hook-up. While they're primarily for use on dogs, any animal that can fit their snout inside them can utilize the masks.
“We started this program in 2006, and to date, we have donated over 18,000 of these kits. In total, that translates to us saving 714 dogs during that time period. We're donating these to any fire department or pet rescue unit that can use them,” said Brian Lowrie, owner and operator of Invisible Fence brand for northern Alberta.
With the additional tools to help bring pets to safety, the BRFA is reminding residents to clearly display how many pets they have somewhere on their property.
Those who visit Skinner at her local animal hotel, The Pet Lodge, can request a sticker for their front door, where they can include information on how many pets would need to be rescued in the case of an emergency.
This not only makes crews aware of a pet's presence, it allows them to deal with the situation without putting further stress on the animal.
“It's not even just about the rescue aspect. It's just nice to know there's an animal in the house, because when you do come across it, it's not going to cause any problems, and you have a better chance of rescuing it,” explained BRFA chief Brian McEvoy.
Residents in the Lakeland have already seen the concept at work on at least two separate occasions. According to deputy fire chief for Cold Lake Fire-Rescue Norm Hollis, thanks to the stickers, crews were able to save dogs during both incidents.
“We had two calls recently with live dogs, and they were no problem because we knew they were in there. When you talk to a person and their house is on fire, they may not always remember their pets. When we see the stickers, we can see whether the dog is outside, or still in the house,” Hollis said.
Skinner reiterated having a sticker on their front door is something all pet owners should consider. With the addition of the oxygen masks, BRFA units have a much better chance of saving a pet, as long as they're aware it's in the house.
“Putting the stickers on makes personnel aware that you have pets. To now know that our fire departments have these masks makes it easier, and in some cases possible, to save pets. That provides a lot of peace of mind.”
