Members of the Stafford Dog Club will present four sets of animal oxygen masks to the Stafford Fire and Rescue Department on Friday, March 16, at 3:30 p.m. The presentation will take place at the department’s headquarters, which is located at the Rowser Building Annex, 1729 Jefferson Davis Highway.

The masks can be connected to an oxygen tank and placed over the snout of an animal to revive it. A set consists of three reusable masks of different sizes and can fit the snouts of animals ranging from a cat to a St. Bernard. They are specially designed to form a tight seal around the animal’s snout.

“Pet owners consider their companion animals as another member of the family, and they expect us to treat them with the same level of care that we provide to people during emergency situations,” said Gerald Jaskulski, Chief of the Fire and Rescue Department’s Emergency Management Division. “Oxygen masks that we carry for humans don’t fit the snouts of animals very well, but these masks seal the snouts off so that oxygen can flow faster directly to the animal and increase its chances of survival.”

Public safety personnel do not respond to medical emergencies for animals. However, if they are on the scene for an emergency, such as a fire, and an animal is involved and is suffering from smoke inhalation, then responders will be able to assist that animal. “This additional level of service is keeping with our “All Hazards” approach to emergency situations,” Chief Jaskulski said. “We will assist our companion animals whenever we can.”

The retail cost for each set of masks is about $150. The Stafford Dog Club is donating the masks to the Fire and Rescue Department. The masks will be distributed to stations spread throughout the county so that they will be easily accessible to different locations. 

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