When a fire breaks out in a home, firefighters are often saving more than just the people inside. On Tuesday, the Barrie Kennel and Obedience Club made a donation of five pet-specific oxygen masks to the Barrie Fire Department. Each kit comes with three sizes that can be used on an animal’s nose or beak so first responders can provide life-saving oxygen to those suffering from smoke inhalation or respiratory distress. “Many people consider animals as part of the family, I know I do myself,” said Barrie Fire Chief Kevin White. “To have a tool like this that will help to provide that fresh oxygen for an animal at the time of a fire, is going to be essential for our front-line firefighters,” White said. “It means a lot, most of us have been in dogs (care) 25-plus years, so to be able to see an animal saved just gets to all of our hearts,” says Carol Brech with the Barrie Kennel and Obedience Club. The club says it plans on eventually donating pet-specific oxygen masks to every local department in the region.
