Pets Breathe Easier in Grand Traverse County

Fire departments throughout Grand Traverse County received a donation that will help prevent pets from falling victim to smoke inhalation due to fire.

Dave Hoxsie, co-owner, Invisible Fence of Northern Michigan,
demonstrates the specially designed masks on his dog, Red.

Invisible Fence of Northern Michigan donated 14 oxygen recovery mask kits for pets to the Grand Traverse Metro, Traverse City and Grand Traverse Rural Fire Departments the evening of September 11, 2007 at the monthly Fire Chiefs Association meeting held at Station 9 in East Bay Township.

"We hope that by donating oxygen mask kits that we will contribute to saving more pets and hopefully protect pet owners that may risk their own life to save a pet in a fire," said Dave Hoxsie, owner, Invisible Fence of Northern Michigan.

It is estimated that in 2006, more than 40,000 pets died in fires; most succumbed to smoke inhalation. In most states, emergency responders are unequipped to deal with the crisis. The donation of these specially designed and potentially lifesaving animal oxygen mask sets will enable Grand Traverse County first responders to efficiently administer oxygen to a stricken animal.

Randy Agruda, Public Information Officer, Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department; Scott Scanlon, co-owner, Invisible Fence of Northern Michigan; Dave Hoxsie, co-owner, Invisible Fence of Northern Michigan; Pat Parker, Fire Chief, Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department; and our canine friend Red Hoxsie.

"We want to thank Invisible Fence for their generosity and believe that these kits will help us save more pets; we can all recall a fire from the past where these kits would have helped save a pet," said Pat Parker, Fire Chief, Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department.

The mask kits come with small, medium and large masks. In addition to cats and dogs, these masks can help save smaller pets such as ferrets, hamsters and birds.

Invisible Fence of Northern Michigan also plans to donate oxygen recovery mask kits to fire departments in Leelanau, Charlevoix, and Emmet Counties this month.

Invisible Fence first learned about the mask kits while attending an Invisible Fence Brand Dealer Meeting at their headquarters in Knoxville. They felt strongly about supporting the program and felt it was a way they could give back to northern Michigan and to communities throughout the Midwest.

Article and photos by Laurie Wright, JGB Distributing, Inc. / Invisible Fence Brand (www.invisiblefence.com)