NORWAY — The Fire Department received two sets of pet oxygen masks recently from the Maine Pet Oxygen Masks Project, Fire Chief Dennis Yates said.
The masks were a gift from project creator Bobby Silcott of Naples in late September. Silcott began the project in 2009 to “help equip local rescue organizations with Pet Oxygen Masks designed for most companion animals,” according to his website.
“We’ve been aware of (the Pet Oxygen Masks Project),” Yates said, “and we’ve been trying to get some pet oxygen masks for awhile. Last week, after he gave them to us, he said that if there were any other departments that would like to have them, he would make sure to get some masks to them.”
Yates said one of the masks will be placed on Engine 4, which goes to out-of-town calls. That way, other towns that don’t have masks can have access to a mask.”
The department’s second pet oxygen mask will stay on its other squad truck, Yates said.
“People love their pets like they love their kids,” the chief said. “I think back to some situations in the past where we could’ve saved some animals if we had the masks. Animals seem to resuscitate a little easier than humans, so I think with these masks, we’ll be able to help a lot more animals.”
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