Grand Island, Neb. — When firefighters rush to the scene of a structure fire, the top priority is making sure everyone in the home has made it out of the home safely, and that includes your family pets.
However, sometimes pets are in the home alone, which leads to them inhaling a lot of smoke before their hopeful rescue. That’s where Animal Medical Clinic in Grand Island saw an opportunity.
Pets, just like humans, need a steady supply of oxygen if they’ve been exposed to a heavy amount of smoke for an extended period of time. Fortunately, there are masks designed to help with just that.
Through a fundraiser that featured a garage sale, Animal Medical Clinic raised enough funds to donate seven pet oxygen masks to the Grand Island Fire Department, and it’s a donation that will be put to use often according GIFD Chief Cory Schmidt.
“It’s an unfortunate need, but a need nonetheless,” Schmidt said. “Oftentimes when our firefighters arrive to the scene of an active fire, the home may be vacant, but pets have no way of getting out without our assistance.”
During the donation, staff at the Animal Medical Clinic also showed Chief Schmidt various ways they control different types of animals and how some of their supplies could also be beneficial for the fire department.