When a dog, cat or other small pet is rescued from a smoky house or apartment fire, volunteer firefighters with the Christiana Fire Company will be able to more easily administer much-needed oxygen to them thanks to a donation of pet-sized oxygen masks from Pine Creek Animal Hospital.

The idea of donating the oxygen masks came from certified veterinary technician Jodi Eisenberger, who is also an emergency medical technician (EMT). She was able to purchase the oxygen mask kits from Wag'N O2 Fur Life. Each kit includes three different sizes of masks that will fit dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and other small animals. Each mask also includes instructions on the proper oxygen flow needed for the pet.

Christiana Fire Company Chief Sonny Reimold traveled to Pine Creek Animal Hospital, located at 150 Pine Creek Drive, Christiana, to accept the donation from Eisenberger, as well as veterinary technicians Doris Zimmerman and Jessie Rayburn and practice owner and manager Dr. Ashley Hammer Tuma.

Reimold explained that the new masks will be stored inside an emergency vehicle. "They will go in the command vehicle, which goes to all fire calls. It is where the command post is set up," he explained. "Christiana Ambulance, which is separate from the fire company, knows that we have (the oxygen masks). They run on all our fire calls. The firefighters will get the pets out and the ambulance (workers) will be treating them. It is a joint venture."

Like humans, pets are given oxygen in the event of smoke inhalation. "You never know when there is a fire involving pets," said Reimold. "It's something that is on everyone's mind."

He noted that having the oxygen masks will be especially helpful when pets are home alone. "There were (recently) some house fires and in both instances (firefighters) broke in (to fight the fire) because the people were at work," he stated.

Reimold has been involved with the Christiana Fire Company for more than 30 years as assistant chief and deputy chief and, for the last 20 years, as chief. "We use (oxygen masks) in emergency services anyway, (but) I am hoping these never get used."

The all-volunteer Christiana Fire Company, 215 S. Bridge St., Christiana, serves Christiana Borough, Atglen Borough and Sadsbury Township. The company is actively seeking volunteers. "There are plenty of things to do - administration, fire police and firefighters - just about anything," Reimold said. "That is true of all fire companies right now."

For more information about the fire company, including volunteer opportunities, call 610-593-2142 or visit http://www.christianafire.com or http://www.facebook.com/christianafirecompany.

To learn more about Wag'N O2 Fur Life, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing pet oxygen masks to first responders across North America, visit http://www.petoxygenmasks.org.

More information about Pine Creek Animal Hospital is available at http://www.facebook.com/pinecreekanimalhospital or http://www.pinecreekah.com.