Pets are given lifesaving equipment by fire crews.
The Clark Volunteer Fire Department recently received ‘FIDO bags’ from the Fetch Foundation containing equipment designed to provide lifesaving care to animals.
A handful of Mercer County fire departments will benefit from some recently donated equipment in their goal to safeguard lives and property, particularly the lives of homeowners' pets.
A pair of "FIDO bags" holding various items of equipment were recently presented to the Clark Volunteer Fire Department by the Fetch Foundation.
Most people have pets, so it's kind of heartbreaking when homeowners are able to flee a house that's already burned or in some kind of crisis and leave their pets behind," said Derrick Yohn, a fireman, technical coordinator, and treasurer for the Clark Volunteer Fire Department.
Associate member Floyd McCluskey, who Yohn said specialized in the department's outreach projects and has expertise contacting colleges about giving various materials, was able to secure the bags.
The Fetch Foundation approved the department's proposal, and two FIDO bags containing various pieces of equipment were awarded in mid-February.
Elongated masks specifically made to fit on animals were among the supplies in the bag, allowing firemen to deliver oxygen to dogs suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation, similar to the masks used on humans, Yohn added.
He explained, It's made for both canines and felines. The design gently glides over the snout and seals off the outside air, creating a more enclosed atmosphere with improved oxygenated airflow.
Other medical items in the FIDO backpacks included a training DVD and emergency collapsible water dishes, which can be used if the animals become dehydrated, according to Yohn.
The Fetch Foundation also donated some FIDO bags to the Hempfield Volunteer Fire Department, which were delivered on March 14.
The department already had two bags, which were provided by Mercer County's Animal Response Team, and the Fetch Foundation contributed four more bags. According to Chief Dave King, this allows Hempfield firefighters to have a FIDO bag on each of their vehicles.
Although the objective during a fire is to save individuals' lives first, King, who owns multiple dogs and a cat, said it's not uncommon to come across scenarios when the owners have pets that are still "family."
That's hard enough for someone to lose their home, but to lose an animal on top of it is even worse, King said. We certainly empathize and will do everything we can to save that animal.
When a fire breaks out and people are unable to flee with their pets, King explained that the animals will try to hide and seek refuge in a safe location, which is usually where they sleep. Unfortunately, this usually means that the animals will wind up in hard-to-find locations, such as below furniture.
We'll always ask the homeowner where the animals are, King said, since they normally try to hide.
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