Invisible Fence donates pet O2 masks to South Frontenac Fire Department

Craig Bakay | Apr 18, 2018

“Saving pets is kind of what we do,” Tracy Trumble of Invisible Fence Bellville/ Kingston told South Frontenac firefighters Tuesday night. “We’ve been keeping pets safe for 45 years.”

And on this night, Trumble was at the Hartington Station to present the department with nine sets (one for each station) of breathing masks for pets as part of Project Breathe.

“Since 2006, we’ve given out about 5,000 masks and have 130 saves on the books,” he said.

The masks come in three sizes (two for dogs and a smaller one for cats), and attach to a regular oxygen bottle. The mask is then placed over the muzzle of a pet that’s been in smoky situation such as a house fire much the same way a mask would be placed on a human.

“It’s really very simple and we keep these in stock,” he said. “If something on it breaks, we’ll replace it free of charge.”

Acting Fire Chief Terry Gervais was visibly touched by the gesture and thanked Trumble.

“What a great thing for our community,” Gervais said. “Pets are just like kids for many people.”

Gervais added that this all came about through the work of firefighter John Turner who heard about the program and “initiated” the whole thing.

“John is to be commended for this,” he said.

“There was a house fire in Sunbury about six years ago,” Turner said. “There was a dog and we tried to give him oxygen and did CPR on him but unfortunately he didn’t make it. “These may give pets a better chance.”