Fire aid units to receive lifesaving masks for pets

Local 4-H Club and dog day-care center donate funds

When fire strikes, family pets can be injured or die from inhaling smoke. Because human oxygen masks don’t fit over animals’ snouts, rescue personnel can’t do much to help. That’s about to change.

Each of Monmouth County’s 60 volunteer fire aid units will soon be receiving a set of specially designed pet oxygen masks for use in fire and other rescue situations.

The masks are being donated through the efforts of 17 children and teens who are members of the “Paws 4 A Cause” Dog 4-H Club and the “Best Friends Cause for Paws” matching campaign of All for Doggies Doggy Day Care Centers in Marlboro and Shrewsbury.

On Nov. 18, 60 sets of masks were scheduled to be presented to Michael Oppegaard, deputy EMS coordinator for the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management, who will ensure they are delivered to the fire aid units throughout the county.

Members of the club were scheduled to be in attendance with their dogs, demonstrating how the masks are used. Isa Fowler, manager of All for Doggies, which donated half of the masks, was also set to participate in the presentation.

Paws 4 A Cause Dog 4-H Club, which was founded last year, has 17 members, ages 6 through 18. The group meets regularly for both educational activities related to learning about and caring for dogs, along with animal related community-service projects. In total, the club’s members have raised more than $3,000 through a series of fundraising initiatives that began in June.

“We don’t need any more donations right now,” said Lee Ann Tursi, one of the club’s parent leaders. “We’ve raised enough funds that, with Best Friends’ match, we have a total of 110 sets of the masks to donate. We’ve offered them to fire departments and canine units around the county and the additional 50 sets will be donated to those who respond.”

“Best Friends started Cause for Paws with the goal of outfitting every emergency unit in the community, but didn’t know if that would be possible,” explained Isa Fowler, of All for Doggies. “We are absolutely inspired by the way these children have stepped up to serve their community and ensure the safety of all pets in Monmouth County.”

Members of the club include: Jessyca Risa, Conor and Shane Keenan, Jamie Wallenstein, all of Tinton Falls; and Megan, Amanda and Mary Tursi, Katie-Rose Nunziato and Christine and Daniela Daly, Eatontown; Charles and Miranda Landry, Howell; Noelle Maiello, Middletown; Clair McKitrick, Colts Neck; Monica Murphy, Spring Lake Heights and Darren and Tanner Maine, Freehold. Parent leaders are Tursi and Joanne Risa.

The masks operate much as human masks do, but are cone-shaped to match an animal’s snout and come in three sizes – large canine mask, small canine mask, and feline, which fit most dogs, cats and small mammals. Their design makes them more effective than human masks at delivering oxygen to pets who have suffered smoke inhalation during a home fire.

Last year, more than 40,000 family pets died in home fires across the U.S., but dozens of others were saved because local fire departments had been outfitted with these special masks, thanks to the Best Friends Cause for Paws Campaign launched by All for Doggies parent company, Best Friends Pet Care, in 2004. More than 3,200 sets of pet masks have been distributed to fire departments and emergency rescue teams around the U.S.

The Cause for Paws campaign, which began in 2004, will conclude in January. For more information, visit www.bestfriendspetcare. com and click on the link to Rescue Masks.