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HIGHTSTOWN: Firefighters get pet masks

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — Fire and rescue crews are now equipped with pet oxygen masks thanks to a donation from the Animal Welfare Committee.
The committee purchased the masks and donated them to the Hightstown Fire Department and First Aid Squad should a time arise when they need them.
"It is very important in an animal fire and rescue situations that our fire department has the equipment to be able to handle pets as well," said AWC chairman Susan Baxter. "We are trying to look out for the welfare of all of Hightstown’s pets."
AWC member Phyllis Deal presented Hightstown Engine Co. No. 1 Chief Scott Jenkins and Hightstown First Aid Squad Capt. Ron Cornejo with eight sets of the oxygen masks on July 24, six for the fire department.
Committee members along with firefighters, Borough Mayor Steven Kirson, council members and residents attended the demonstration at the firehouse at 140 North Main St..
The masks were purchased from Pets America, a non-profit organization based in San Diego and cost $771, she said.
"We are pleased to receive them," said Chief Jenkins. "We are glad to be able to have this stuff available on our fire trucks."
Chief Jenkins took a few minutes to open a set of masks and tried the smaller mask out on Essex, an American curl cat, who was lying on top of the table with his owner, Ms. Baxter, who kept him lying down on the table during the presentation.
Capt. Cornejo took out the large mask and placed it on the stuffed doll Husky to illustrate how the mask would fit on an animal its size since the AWC was unable find a dog to participate in the demonstration.
Chief Jenkins began distributing the sets of masks to his crews who were in attendance and watching the demonstration at the time and began loading them onto the various trucks.
"I look forward to you guys rescuing a lot of cats and dogs," Ms. Deal said. "If you ever have a chance to use these please let us know."
"We’ve actually rescued a few cats over the last two years," Chief Jenkins said, adding one in Hightstown and one in East Windsor.
"The one in East Windsor was during the winter and the cat was stuck up in the very top of the tree," he said. "There was ice all over the tree and the cat seriously couldn’t get down. So we lifted a ladder up, the cat jumped onto the ladder, ran down to our fireman that was going up and jumped right into his arms. It was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. That cat wanted off that tree bad."
AWC member Janice Mastriano said that the committee started 12 years ago with the Kitty Committee and its "original purpose was to neuter cats in Hightstown."
"Then it progressed to the point where we find homes for dogs," said Ms. Mastriano.
Ms. Deal said that the AWC relies on donations to assist the community in various ways, including paying for vaccinations and spaying and neutering procedures for stray animals. It sells fire-proof stickers which pet owners can place on their windows that indicate how many pets are inside the house for crews to see in the event of an emergency.