Mahwah First Responders Give Pets A Fighting Chance With New Oxygen Masks

MAHWAH, N.J. -- Thanks to Barbara Messina, a Hawthorne resident and volunteer with Companion Animal Advocates, dogs and cats in Mahwah are getting a lifeline during times of crisis. She and the Bergen County-based animal welfare group recently donated pet oxygen masks to the Mahwah Police's K-9 Unit , which will provide vital support to pets during emergency responses.

Canine Officer Robert Rapp with Remco, a 3 year old Belgian Malinois with the Mahwah Police Department.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Daily Voice

03/21/2017 4:02 p.m.

The masks, which come in three sizes, are specially sized to enable firefighters or EMTs to deliver oxygen to pets during life and death circumstances.

Additionally, Mahwah EMS is in need of pet oxygen mask donations for its four ambulances as well. The $100 tax-deductible donation includes: three oxygen masks and air tubes, one O2 Fur Life carry bag, one laminated instruction sheet, one kennel lead, two "Pet Oxygen Masks On Board" decals, one PowerPoint presentation, one instructional DVD entitled “Pets Need Oxygen Too”, two animal incident report (AIR) forms for first responders and a pet rescue notice form.

Companion Animal Advocates’ humane education program is currently working to ensure every town in Bergen County is equipped with pet first responder kits, so animal are protected in case of an emergency.

For further information or to donate, contact Christine at Christine@CompanionAnimalAdvocates.org, call 201-706-7666 or click here.

Click here to follow Daily Voice South Passaic and receive free news updates.