Crews Get Animal Rescue Kits

Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services are now better equipped to help pets involved in fires with specially designed oxygen masks.

19 kits have been donated by Invisible Fence and Pets and Wildlife Rescue, one for every fire station in Chatham-Kent.

Assistant Chief Rick Scharf stresses human safety is the number one priority, but when human safety has been established, they are capable of doing more for family pets now. Scharf adds that previous practices were extremely difficult. "Taking a human mask and trying to put it on, trying to do chest compressions on animals...but with the advent of this kit, at least we'll be able to get a higher concentration of oxygen to the pet."

The Invisible Fence dealership has distributed 71 kits across the region, with each kit costing around $60.

Gayle Bailey from Invisible Fence, shows off animal rescue kits that will be located at all fire stations in Chatham-Kent (Photo taken by Jake Kislinsky).

Members of Invisible Fence show Assistant Fire Chief Rick Scharf new animal rescue kits (Photo taken by Jake Kislinsky).

Oxygen masks for pets will come in three different sizes (Photo taken by Jake Kislinsky).

Gayle Bailey from Invisible Fence, shows off animal rescue kits that will be located at all fire stations in Chatham-Kent (Photo taken by Jake Kislinsky).

A demonstration of how an oxygen mask would fit on a dog (Photo taken by Jake Kislinsky).