Saving family pets in the event of a fire

CALHOUN COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – A huge donation will help firefighters save the lives of local family pets.

Roughly 40,000 family pets die each year in house fires, but one local company is trying to cut that number down. To do that, they're providing oxygen masks to fire departments to help save pets in a disaster.

First responders to the scene of a fire will often go to great lengths to revive a family pet, sometimes even sacrificing their own supply of oxygen to get pets to start breathing.

The problem is that the masks designed for humans don't work so well for animals and even the most valient of efforts to save a pet from smoke inhalation may not always work.

"If we see fire departments with these oxygen masks we would see a lower mortality rate," said Dr. Jennifer Bohney of the Marshal Animal Clinic.

That's where Harold Bruns, President of Invisible Fence of Southwest Michigan is stepping in. He's donating hundreds of pet friendly oxygen masks to fire departments across Calhoun County.

Each fire department will receive three masks, for various sizes of animal, and for the first time, fire departments will now have the tools in place to save what many families value most, their beloved pets.

"Whether it's a cat or dog, hopefully we can bring them back," said Chief Larry Cochensparger of the Bedford Township Fire Department.

The masks will make pet owners, at least in Calhoun County, breathe a little easier knowing their pets stand a better chance of being saved in the event of a fire.

And, Calhoun County won't be the only one to benefit from the generosity. Newschannel 3 has also been told that every fire department in Kalamazoo County will also be receiving the masks soon.