Fire departments deploy special masks for furry victims

WAUCONDA, Ill. -- When a firefighter carries a pet from a burning home, the rescued animal often isn't out of the woods. Many times the jubilant moment turns to anguish when the dog or cat later dies from smoke inhalation.

One problem: Long, mangy snouts make it difficult to fit oxygen masks made for people over dogs' noses.

Now, a growing number of fire departments in Illinois and around the country are using masks specially made for pets. The plastic, cone-shaped masks, long used by veterinarians for anesthesia, have a rubber ring that provides a tight seal, forcing pure oxygen into canine and feline snouts.

Many firefighters say once humans are out of harm's way, they'll do everything they can to save a family's beloved pet.

"Pets are an important part of people's families," said Tom Krueger, medical officer for the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District, 35 miles north of Chicago, which recently got the masks. "Some people consider them like their kids."

Unless a home is engulfed in flames, "we're going in to get 'em," he said.

Fire departments in Antioch, Buffalo Grove and Wauconda also acquired the special masks in recent months.

Booming sales

The general manager of the Waukesha, Wis.-based company that makes the devices said sales have exploded this year. The company sells the masks in sets of three: one for cats, one for small dogs and one for big dogs.

"It has just kind of snowballed," said Jeff Baker, vice president and general manager of Smiths Medical Veterinary Division. He said the company has sold 1,500 sets over the last year -- more than the company has sold in the last 15 years.

Humane societies and businesses often raise money for departments to buy the masks. Norwalk, Conn.-based Best Friends Pet Care, a pet boarding and grooming company, has helped 60 fire departments in 10 states buy the masks through its Cause for Paws campaign, spokeswoman Deb Bennetts said.

Bennetts said firefighters without the devices have gone to extreme measures to save pets from smoke inhalation -- everything from sticking the oxygen hose straight into the animal's nose to "mouth-to-snout" resuscitation.