Canine, Feline 911

Hernando Today

BROOKSVILLE - Many house fires get out of control because there's no one home to put it out or call for help.

No humans are home, anyway.

Too often firefighters arrive to a blaze to discover that pets are still trapped inside. Typically, the animals are weak or unconscious from smoke inhalation when they are rescued. Time is critical to recovery, but up until recently the lack of a muzzle-shaped mask made it difficult to administer oxygen to the county's pets.

That changed Thursday.

The Florida West Coast Doberman Pinscher Club challenged its members last year to raise the funds for custom-designed animal oxygen masks. One of the people to accept the task was Susan Smith, who lives in the Spring Lake area.

It took her a year to raise the funds and find a veterinarian who would order the equipment. On Thursday, her hard work paid off when two sets of oxygen masks made their debut at Hernando County Fire Rescue's headquarters in Brooksville.

In a rescue situation, "people come first, but animals suffer too," Smith said.

The masks come in three sizes to accommodate the majority of pets: small, medium and giant. The largest is for dogs weighing more than 60 pounds; the smallest can cradle a kitten or a puppy.

Each is equipped with a rubber seal to maximize the oxygen an animal receives.

To model the masks, Smith enlisted the help of a 3-year-old Doberman named Spirit. With 83 pounds of muscle packed onto a sleek frame, Spirit glided like a cruise missile through headquarters with the calm authority inherent to his breed.

Spirit's size was all he had in the way of intimidation though, because he was quick to greet the firefighters with a friendly nuzzle.

Dr. Jennifer Brisbois, a veterinarian with an animal hospital in Zephyrhills, explained to the firefighters the damage humans suffer from smoke inhalation are common to all mammals.

The key to recovery is to expel all of the carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide that collects in the bloodstream. She also suggested rinsing an animal's eyes with saline or a similar solution to prevent cataracts caused by irritants in smoke.

Each side of the county will have a set of the animal masks. The only part that might crack over time is the rubber, but the masks "will last these guys for years," Brisbois said.

Capt. Kevin Rittenhouse, the firefighter training coordinator, accepted the gift with gratitude.

"It's going to be a good thing," he said.