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Donation equips departments' crews for occasional saves
 
By CAROLYN JONES
The San Francisco Chronicle (California) 

PLEASANTON, Calif. — In honor of her beloved 9-pound pooch, Daisey, a Pleasanton real estate agent has outfitted every fire truck from Danville to Pleasanton with snout-shaped oxygen masks to help save pets suffering from smoke inhalation.

It doesn't matter that the 44 masks, which cost Jeanie Reitzell $10,000, might never be used. Everyone's happy knowing they're there, just in case.

"I'm thrilled. If we can save one animal this way, it will be worth it," said Marty Anthony, a Humane Society board member on hand Wednesday to unveil the oxygen masks, dubbed "Daisey's Gift of Life."

The dogs in attendance were not quite so enthusiastic.

They showed no interest in wearing the masks unless there were treats inside, and even then one crafty Australian shepherd tried to bat the treat out of the mask rather than stick his snout in the clear plastic mask.

The dogs' lack of cooperation is moot, however, because in a real fire, they'd be unconscious if they needed the masks, officials said.

"The problem is when they revive," said Galen Wentz of the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department. "A cat, for example, would be very freaked out. So we wrap 'em in a blanket, swaddle 'em like a baby, put the mask on, then toss 'em to the owner."

The whole practice might be theoretical, in any case. Wentz said that in his 28 years as a firefighter, he's rescued only half a dozen pets. Animals, which have a natural aversion to fire, are usually the first to flee or they hide and die of smoke inhalation before firefighters can find them.

"First we look for people and try to save property," said Wentz, a lifelong dog owner. "But how do I say this? It's nice to know we have the tools to save pets, should the need arise."

Reitzell was ecstatic.

"You hear about it, you see the pictures of it, but it's just very exciting to finally see how it works," said Reitzell, who was dressed in purple, matching Daisey's bows.

Reitzell said she heard about the mask idea six months ago through a friend on the Humane Society board.

"They needed money to buy the masks, and I said, 'I'll fund it,' " she said. "Then I asked how much it would be. But I would do it no matter how much it cost."

The Humane Society provided the masks to the Livermore-Pleasanton, Dublin and San Ramon Valley fire departments. The masks come in several sizes and can fit everything from a 6-pound cat to a 150-pound St. Bernard. Firefighters were trained this week in their use.

The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA donated masks to every fire department in San Mateo County three years ago.

The kits have saved the life of at least one pet. In November 2003, firefighters saved a Chihuahua from a San Mateo house fire.