The Burnaby Fire Department is now fully stocked with pet oxygen masks, thanks to a donation from a pet food company in Surrey.
Pam Knibbs with Earth Options Pet Products told the NOW the story about dog trainer Dove Cresswell hit close to home for staff. Cresswell lost nine pets to smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in her Burnaby suite in May.
“I could not imagine that happening to me,” she said. “What if the Cloverdale fire department showed up and they couldn’t save any of them? I don’t have any children. This is it.”
At the time of the tragedy, the fire department only had one pet oxygen kit, which contained two mask sizes.
After learning about the lack of resources, Knibbs said the pet food company decided to donate five kits to the Burnaby fire department, one for every ladder truck.
“I had no idea that fire trucks didn’t have pet oxygen masks. I really didn’t. That was a huge eye opener. It’s like, why not?” the owner of three pugs added.
Burnaby assistant fire chief Erik Vogel welcomed the donation and called it a “great feeling.”
“The chances of us needing more than one kit will hopefully never happen again. Now we’re covered,” he said.
